diff --git a/test/parallel/test-cluster-master-kill.js b/test/parallel/test-cluster-master-kill.js
index 98ed0d22aa9cfd..6ad8eb9e43f727 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-cluster-master-kill.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-cluster-master-kill.js
@@ -60,7 +60,8 @@ if (cluster.isWorker) {
   process.once('exit', () => {
     assert.strictEqual(typeof pid, 'number',
                        `got ${pid} instead of a worker pid`);
-    assert.strictEqual(alive, false, 'worker was alive after master died');
+    assert.strictEqual(alive, false,
+                       `worker was alive after master died (alive = ${alive})`);
   });
 
 }