diff --git a/tests/libtest/lib518.c b/tests/libtest/lib518.c
index b2aa0554c6..756f301d9e 100644
--- a/tests/libtest/lib518.c
+++ b/tests/libtest/lib518.c
@@ -409,8 +409,9 @@ static int rlimit(int keep_open)
     sprintf(strbuff1, fmt, num_open.rlim_max);
     sprintf(strbuff, "stdio fopen() fails with %s fds open()",
             strbuff1);
-    store_errmsg(strbuff, 0);
     fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", msgbuff);
+    sprintf(strbuff, "stdio fopen() fails with lots of fds open()");
+    store_errmsg(strbuff, 0);
     close_file_descriptors();
     free(memchunk);
     return -12;
diff --git a/tests/libtest/lib537.c b/tests/libtest/lib537.c
index eecda46262..a074bf9940 100644
--- a/tests/libtest/lib537.c
+++ b/tests/libtest/lib537.c
@@ -412,8 +412,9 @@ static int rlimit(int keep_open)
     sprintf(strbuff1, fmt, num_open.rlim_max);
     sprintf(strbuff, "stdio fopen() fails with %s fds open()",
             strbuff1);
-    store_errmsg(strbuff, 0);
     fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", msgbuff);
+    sprintf(strbuff, "stdio fopen() fails with lots of fds open()");
+    store_errmsg(strbuff, 0);
     close_file_descriptors();
     free(memchunk);
     return -10;