diff --git a/spring-integration-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/integration/channel/PointToPointChannelTests.java b/spring-integration-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/integration/channel/PointToPointChannelTests.java
index 6a252eb4d1..3be085fbcf 100644
--- a/spring-integration-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/integration/channel/PointToPointChannelTests.java
+++ b/spring-integration-core/src/test/java/org/springframework/integration/channel/PointToPointChannelTests.java
@@ -222,7 +222,8 @@ public class PointToPointChannelTests {
 		});
 		sender.start();
 		latch.await();
-		assertEquals("test-3", messageRef.get().getPayload());
+		String payload = (String) messageRef.get().getPayload();
+		assertEquals("expected 'test-3', but message was '" + payload, "test-3", payload);
 	}
 
 	@Test