diff --git a/test/pummel/test-net-throttle.js b/test/pummel/test-net-throttle.js
index e99a79848e..228b551818 100644
--- a/test/pummel/test-net-throttle.js
+++ b/test/pummel/test-net-throttle.js
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ var server = net.createServer(function(connection) {
   connection.write(body.slice(0, part_N));
   connection.write(body.slice(part_N, 2 * part_N));
   assert.equal(false, connection.write(body.slice(2 * part_N, N)));
-  console.log('bufferSize: ' + connection.bufferSize);
-  assert.ok(0 <= connection.bufferSize && connection.bufferSize <= N);
+  console.log('bufferSize: ' + connection.bufferSize, 'expecting', N);
+  assert.ok(0 <= connection.bufferSize && connection._writableState.length <= N);
   connection.end();
 });