diff --git a/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/properties/EmptyPropertiesTest.java b/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/properties/EmptyPropertiesTest.java
index 7eadf3a5db..30b194b517 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/properties/EmptyPropertiesTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/properties/EmptyPropertiesTest.java
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ public void testEquals() {
         Assert.assertEquals(PropertiesFactory.EMPTY_PROPERTIES, PropertiesFactory.EMPTY_PROPERTIES);
         Assert.assertEquals(PropertiesFactory.EMPTY_PROPERTIES, new Properties());
         Assert.assertEquals(new Properties(), PropertiesFactory.EMPTY_PROPERTIES);
-        Assert.assertNull(PropertiesFactory.EMPTY_PROPERTIES);
+        Assert.assertFalse(PropertiesFactory.EMPTY_PROPERTIES.equals(null));
         final Properties p = new Properties();
         p.put("Key", "Value");
         Assert.assertFalse(PropertiesFactory.EMPTY_PROPERTIES.equals(p));