diff --git a/tests/suites/test_suite_mpi.function b/tests/suites/test_suite_mpi.function
index 795d2a022..ce1a07205 100644
--- a/tests/suites/test_suite_mpi.function
+++ b/tests/suites/test_suite_mpi.function
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ void mpi_read_file( int radix_X, char *input_file, char *input_A,
     unsigned char buf[1000];
     size_t buflen;
     FILE *file;
+    int ret;
 
     memset( buf, 0x00, 1000 );
     memset( str, 0x00, 1000 );
@@ -105,8 +106,9 @@ void mpi_read_file( int radix_X, char *input_file, char *input_A,
 
     file = fopen( input_file, "r" );
     TEST_ASSERT( file != NULL );
-    TEST_ASSERT( mpi_read_file( &X, radix_X, file ) == result );
+    ret = mpi_read_file( &X, radix_X, file );
     fclose(file);
+    TEST_ASSERT( ret == result );
 
     if( result == 0 )
     {