diff --git a/ckan/new_tests/lib/navl/test_validators.py b/ckan/new_tests/lib/navl/test_validators.py
index 1e34b51face..0b38b7e3a91 100644
--- a/ckan/new_tests/lib/navl/test_validators.py
+++ b/ckan/new_tests/lib/navl/test_validators.py
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ def test_ignore_missing_without_key(self):
                 errors=errors,
                 context={})
 
-        # ignore_missing should remove the item from the dict.
-        assert key not in data
+        # ignore_missing shouldn't change the data dict.
+        assert data == {}
 
         # ignore_missing should not add any errors.
         assert errors[key] == []