diff --git a/test/couchdb_compaction_daemon_tests.erl b/test/couchdb_compaction_daemon_tests.erl
index 20879a7..5802e78 100644
--- a/test/couchdb_compaction_daemon_tests.erl
+++ b/test/couchdb_compaction_daemon_tests.erl
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ spawn_compaction_monitor(DbName) ->
     end),
     receive
         {Pid, started} -> ok;
-        {'DOWN', Ref, _, _, _} -> erlang:error(monitor_failure)
+        {'DOWN', Ref, _, _, Reason} -> erlang:error({monitor_failure, Reason})
     after ?TIMEOUT ->
         erlang:error({assertion_failed, [
                 {module, ?MODULE},