diff --git a/plugins/inputs/tail/tail_test.go b/plugins/inputs/tail/tail_test.go
index 4ebf00171..e8a16cc5c 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/tail/tail_test.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/tail/tail_test.go
@@ -103,10 +103,10 @@ func TestTailBadLine(t *testing.T) {
 
 	acc := testutil.Accumulator{}
 	require.NoError(t, tt.Start(&acc))
+	require.NoError(t, acc.GatherError(tt.Gather))
 
 	_, err = tmpfile.WriteString("cpu mytag= foo usage_idle= 100\n")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.NoError(t, acc.GatherError(tt.Gather))
 
 	acc.WaitError(1)
 	assert.Contains(t, acc.Errors[0].Error(), "E! Malformed log line")