diff --git a/lib/reporters/tap.js b/lib/reporters/tap.js
index 8125d4b38..f286911c9 100644
--- a/lib/reporters/tap.js
+++ b/lib/reporters/tap.js
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ TapReporter.prototype.test = function (test) {
 	if (test.error) {
 		output = [
 			'# ' + test.title,
-			format('not ok %d - %s', ++this.i, test.error.message),
+			format('not ok %d - %s', ++this.i, test.title),
 			'  ---',
 			'    operator: ' + test.error.operator,
 			'    expected: ' + test.error.expected,
diff --git a/test/reporters/tap.js b/test/reporters/tap.js
index da55751a4..ce932cfe6 100644
--- a/test/reporters/tap.js
+++ b/test/reporters/tap.js
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ test('failing test', function (t) {
 
 	var expectedOutput = [
 		'# failing',
-		'not ok 1 - false == true',
+		'not ok 1 - failing',
 		'  ---',
 		'    operator: ==',
 		'    expected: true',