diff --git a/test/common_utils.py b/test/common_utils.py
index 920e999863f..5368018e971 100644
--- a/test/common_utils.py
+++ b/test/common_utils.py
@@ -127,7 +127,6 @@ def remove_prefix_suffix(text, prefix, suffix):
             expected_file += "_" + subname
             subname_output = " ({})".format(subname)
         expected_file += "_expect.pkl"
-        expected = None
 
         def accept_output(update_type):
             print("Accepting {} for {}{}:\n\n{}".format(update_type, munged_id, subname_output, output))
@@ -142,7 +141,8 @@ def accept_output(update_type):
             if e.errno != errno.ENOENT:
                 raise
             elif ACCEPT:
-                return accept_output("output")
+                accept_output("output")
+                return
             else:
                 raise RuntimeError(
                     ("I got this output for {}{}:\n\n{}\n\n"
@@ -150,13 +150,10 @@ def accept_output(update_type):
                      "python {} {} --accept").format(munged_id, subname_output, output, __main__.__file__, munged_id))
 
         if ACCEPT:
-            equal = False
             try:
-                equal = self.assertEqual(output, expected, prec=prec)
+                self.assertEqual(output, expected, prec=prec)
             except Exception:
-                equal = False
-            if not equal:
-                return accept_output("updated output")
+                accept_output("updated output")
         else:
             self.assertEqual(output, expected, prec=prec)