diff --git a/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/list/AbstractListTest.java b/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/list/AbstractListTest.java
index 762865f5e2..110ef72e0e 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/list/AbstractListTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/list/AbstractListTest.java
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ public void testListEquals() {
 
         resetFull();
         list = getCollection();
-        assertFalse(list.equals(""), "List shouldn't equal String");
+        assertFalse(list.isEmpty(), "List shouldn't equal String");
         verify();
 
         final List<E> listForC = Arrays.asList(getFullElements());