diff --git a/spec_tests/test_errors.py b/spec_tests/test_errors.py
index f4c68fed..b67a4451 100644
--- a/spec_tests/test_errors.py
+++ b/spec_tests/test_errors.py
@@ -171,6 +171,9 @@ def _run_single_schema_test(self, info, error_code, description,name, error_hand
                     issues = loaded_schema.check_compliance()
                 except HedFileError as e:
                     issues = e.issues
+                    if not issues:
+                        issues += [{"code": e.code,
+                                   "message": e.message}]
                 self.report_result(result, issues, error_code, description, name, test, "schema_tests")
 
     def test_errors(self):