diff --git a/pkg/testutil/testutil.go b/pkg/testutil/testutil.go
index f6bf39dda7a..7d65ec0bf7e 100644
--- a/pkg/testutil/testutil.go
+++ b/pkg/testutil/testutil.go
@@ -397,6 +397,7 @@ func (c *Cmd) AssertFail() {
 func (c *Cmd) AssertExitCode(exitCode int) {
 	c.Base.T.Helper()
 	res := c.runIfNecessary()
+	assert.Equal(c.Base.T, res == nil, false)
 	assert.Assert(c.Base.T, res.ExitCode == exitCode, res)
 }