diff --git a/fmt_test.go b/fmt_test.go
index 7bf96a7..1e3c060 100644
--- a/fmt_test.go
+++ b/fmt_test.go
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@
 
 type detailed struct{}
 
-func (e detailed) Error() string { return fmt.Sprint(e) }
+func (e detailed) Error() string { panic("should have called FormatError") }
 
 func (detailed) FormatError(p xerrors.Printer) (next error) {
 	p.Printf("out of %s", "peanuts")