diff --git a/lib/utils.js b/lib/utils.js
index 5c72990db..f58e1ceaa 100644
--- a/lib/utils.js
+++ b/lib/utils.js
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ exports.betterErrors = function (assertion) {
         return assertion;
     }
     var e = assertion.error;
-    if (e.actual && e.expected) {
+    if (e.operator) {
         var actual = util.inspect(e.actual, false, 10).replace(/\n$/, '');
         var expected = util.inspect(e.expected, false, 10).replace(/\n$/, '');
         var multiline = (