diff --git a/test/parallel/test-cluster-master-kill.js b/test/parallel/test-cluster-master-kill.js
index 417ab193c9bb1f..4e21d8e906cfaf 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-cluster-master-kill.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-cluster-master-kill.js
@@ -81,7 +81,8 @@ 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})`);
   });
 
 }