diff --git a/src/uu/expr/src/syntax_tree.rs b/src/uu/expr/src/syntax_tree.rs
index e53c0d1a7..4f5a4c241 100644
--- a/src/uu/expr/src/syntax_tree.rs
+++ b/src/uu/expr/src/syntax_tree.rs
@@ -992,7 +992,7 @@ mod test {
         );
 
         assert_eq!(
-            check_posix_regex_errors(r"\{1,2"),
+            check_posix_regex_errors(r"a\{1,2"),
             Err(ExprError::UnmatchedOpeningBrace)
         );
     }