diff --git a/test/rubygems/test_require.rb b/test/rubygems/test_require.rb
index 95bae66e213d1e..fc5f219490d7fc 100644
--- a/test/rubygems/test_require.rb
+++ b/test/rubygems/test_require.rb
@@ -471,11 +471,11 @@ def test_realworld_upgraded_default_gem
     File.write(path, code)
 
     output = Gem::Util.popen({ "GEM_HOME" => @gemhome }, *ruby_with_rubygems_in_load_path, path).strip
-    assert $?.success?
     refute_empty output
     assert_equal "999.99.9", output.lines[0].chomp
     # Make sure only files from the newer json gem are loaded, and no files from the default json gem
     assert_equal ["#{@gemhome}/gems/json-999.99.9/lib/json.rb"], output.lines.grep(%r{/gems/json-}).map(&:chomp)
+    assert $?.success?
   end
 
   def test_default_gem_and_normal_gem