diff --git a/tests/test_surface/test_forks.py b/tests/test_surface/test_forks.py
index 9421deca7..db20b0eda 100644
--- a/tests/test_surface/test_forks.py
+++ b/tests/test_surface/test_forks.py
@@ -19,6 +19,4 @@ def test_surface_forks():
     )
     stdout, stderr = process.communicate()
     ret_code = process.wait()
-    if ret_code:
-        raise Exception(stderr)
-    return stdout
+    assert ret_code == 0, stderr