diff --git a/authority/authority_test.go b/authority/authority_test.go
index 0f294a23..fe451245 100644
--- a/authority/authority_test.go
+++ b/authority/authority_test.go
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func TestAuthorityNew(t *testing.T) {
 			c.Root = []string{"foo"}
 			return &newTest{
 				config: c,
-				err:    errors.New("open foo failed: no such file or directory"),
+				err:    errors.New("error reading foo: no such file or directory"),
 			}
 		},
 		"fail bad password": func(t *testing.T) *newTest {
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func TestAuthorityNew(t *testing.T) {
 			c.IntermediateCert = "wrong"
 			return &newTest{
 				config: c,
-				err:    errors.New("open wrong failed: no such file or directory"),
+				err:    errors.New("error reading wrong: no such file or directory"),
 			}
 		},
 	}