diff --git a/src/bin/scripts/t/080_pg_isready.pl b/src/bin/scripts/t/080_pg_isready.pl
index fc2f54f061..558635caf2 100644
--- a/src/bin/scripts/t/080_pg_isready.pl
+++ b/src/bin/scripts/t/080_pg_isready.pl
@@ -9,10 +9,11 @@ program_help_ok('pg_isready');
 program_version_ok('pg_isready');
 program_options_handling_ok('pg_isready');
 
-command_fails(['pg_isready'], 'fails with no server running');
-
 my $node = get_new_node('main');
 $node->init;
+
+$node->command_fails(['pg_isready'], 'fails with no server running');
+
 $node->start;
 
 $node->command_ok(