diff --git a/test/test_helper.bash b/test/test_helper.bash
index 30c04629..8dd403fa 100644
--- a/test/test_helper.bash
+++ b/test/test_helper.bash
@@ -74,8 +74,7 @@ assert_failure() {
 
 assert_equal() {
   if [ "$1" != "$2" ]; then
-    { echo "expected: \`$1'"
-      echo "actual:   \`$2'"
+    { diff -u --label expected --label actual <(echo "$1") <(echo "$2") | cat -te
     } | flunk
   fi
 }