diff --git a/tests/drivers/sam0_eth/main.c b/tests/drivers/sam0_eth/main.c
index 3de13066e5..0b23b665e2 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/sam0_eth/main.c
+++ b/tests/drivers/sam0_eth/main.c
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 
 #include "shell.h"
+#include "test_utils/expect.h"
 #include "test_utils/netdev_eth_minimal.h"
 #include "init_dev.h"
-#include "assert.h"
 #include "net/netdev.h"
 #include "sam0_eth_netdev.h"
 
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ int netdev_eth_minimal_init_devs(netdev_event_cb_t cb) {
 
     /* initialize the device driver */
     int res = sam0_eth.driver->init(&sam0_eth);
-    assert(!res);
+    expect(!res);
 
     return 0;
 }