diff --git a/db-tests/src/test/java/gov/nasa/jpl/aerie/database/ExternalEventTests.java b/db-tests/src/test/java/gov/nasa/jpl/aerie/database/ExternalEventTests.java
index 803b990aeb..bc6861ef8b 100644
--- a/db-tests/src/test/java/gov/nasa/jpl/aerie/database/ExternalEventTests.java
+++ b/db-tests/src/test/java/gov/nasa/jpl/aerie/database/ExternalEventTests.java
@@ -1666,10 +1666,10 @@ void endTimeGEstartTime() throws SQLException {
 
       // if start time = end time, error
       final SQLException ex2 = assertThrows(PSQLException.class, () -> insertExternalSource(failing2));
-      if (!ex.getSQLState().equals("23514")
-          && !ex.getMessage().contains("new row for relation \"external_source\" violates check constraint "
+      if (!ex2.getSQLState().equals("23514")
+          && !ex2.getMessage().contains("new row for relation \"external_source\" violates check constraint "
                                        + "\"external_source_check\"")) {
-        throw ex;
+        throw ex2;
       }
 
       // else, no error