diff --git a/go/vt/topo/zk2topo/zk_conn_test.go b/go/vt/topo/zk2topo/zk_conn_test.go
index 0912294fd52..de66f7352ce 100644
--- a/go/vt/topo/zk2topo/zk_conn_test.go
+++ b/go/vt/topo/zk2topo/zk_conn_test.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"github.com/z-division/go-zookeeper/zk"
 
 	"vitess.io/vitess/go/testfiles"
@@ -31,6 +32,8 @@ func TestZkConnClosedOnDisconnect(t *testing.T) {
 	defer zkd.Teardown()
 
 	conn := Connect(serverAddr)
+	defer conn.Close()
+
 	_, _, err := conn.Get(context.Background(), "/")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Get() failed: %v", err)
@@ -42,7 +45,7 @@ func TestZkConnClosedOnDisconnect(t *testing.T) {
 
 	oldConn := conn.conn
 
-	// simulate a disconnect
+	// force a disconnect
 	zkd.Shutdown()
 	zkd.Start()
 
@@ -54,11 +57,9 @@ func TestZkConnClosedOnDisconnect(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Check that old connection is closed
 	_, _, err = oldConn.Get("/")
-	if err == nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Get() should have failed: %v", err)
-	}
+	require.ErrorContains(t, err, "zookeeper is closing")
 
 	if oldConn.State() != zk.StateDisconnected {
-		t.Fatalf("Connection not closed: %v", oldConn.State())
+		t.Fatalf("Connection is not in disconnected state: %v", oldConn.State())
 	}
 }