diff --git a/tests/test_publisher.py b/tests/test_publisher.py
index 78ab8529f..023de2633 100644
--- a/tests/test_publisher.py
+++ b/tests/test_publisher.py
@@ -62,10 +62,16 @@ def test_plaintext_error():
     assert not re.findall('^>.*\d+.*s = pub._generate_plaintext_error', s, re.MULTILINE)
 
 def test_finish_failed_request():
+    pub.USE_LONG_TRACES = False
+    try:
+        raise Exception('foo')
+    except:
+        exc_type, exc_value, tb = sys.exc_info()
+
     req = get_request()
     pub._set_request(req)
     body = pub.finish_failed_request()
-    assert '<h1>Internal Server Error</h1>' in body
+    assert '<h1>Internal Server Error</h1>' in str(body)
 
     req = get_request()
     pub._set_request(req)