diff --git a/tests/test_module_list.py b/tests/test_module_list.py
index d21ba53b7c..833441cbca 100644
--- a/tests/test_module_list.py
+++ b/tests/test_module_list.py
@@ -58,13 +58,17 @@ def test_transform_api(self):
                 continue
             with self.subTest(n=n):
                 basename = n[:-1]  # Transformd basename is Transform
+
+                # remove aliases to check, do this before the assert below so that a failed assert does skip this
+                for postfix in ("D", "d", "Dict"):
+                    remained.remove(f"{basename}{postfix}")
+
                 for docname in (f"{basename}", f"{basename}d"):
                     if docname in to_exclude_docs:
                         continue
                     if (contents is not None) and f"`{docname}`" not in f"{contents}":
                         self.assertTrue(False, f"please add `{docname}` to docs/source/transforms.rst")
-                for postfix in ("D", "d", "Dict"):
-                    remained.remove(f"{basename}{postfix}")
+
         self.assertFalse(remained)