diff --git a/lib/tests/db/plugin_checks_test.php b/lib/tests/db/plugin_checks_test.php
index 90b2f2ce20f..12a4ac5be0e 100644
--- a/lib/tests/db/plugin_checks_test.php
+++ b/lib/tests/db/plugin_checks_test.php
@@ -52,7 +52,10 @@ final class plugin_checks_test extends \core\tests\plugin_checks_testcase {
         $xmldb = new \xmldb_file($file);
         $xmldb->loadXMLStructure();
         $xmlcontents = $xmldb->getStructure()->xmlOutput();
-        $this->assertSame($xmlcontents, $rawcontents,
-            "Unexpected install.xml format detected, reconciliation needed in $file");
+        $this->assertXmlStringEqualsXmlString(
+            $rawcontents,
+            $xmlcontents,
+            "XMLDB structure does not match the install.xml file in $file",
+        );
     }
 }