diff --git a/tests/test_partitioning.py b/tests/test_partitioning.py
index 04bf27866..5899d9f0a 100644
--- a/tests/test_partitioning.py
+++ b/tests/test_partitioning.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def test_labels_to_indices():
 
 
 def test_merge_partitions_empty_list():
-    pytest.raises(ValueError, message="Received empty partitions list, cannot be merged."):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, message="Received empty partitions list, cannot be merged."):
         xu.merge_partitions([])