diff --git a/java/java_test.go b/java/java_test.go
index f95f88b..81d1f2c 100644
--- a/java/java_test.go
+++ b/java/java_test.go
@@ -222,6 +222,29 @@
 	android.FailIfErrored(t, errs)
 }
 
+func testJavaError(t *testing.T, pattern string, bp string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	config := testConfig(nil)
+	ctx := testContext(bp, nil)
+
+	pathCtx := android.PathContextForTesting(config, nil)
+	setDexpreoptTestGlobalConfig(config, dexpreopt.GlobalConfigForTests(pathCtx))
+
+	ctx.Register()
+	_, errs := ctx.ParseBlueprintsFiles("Android.bp")
+	if len(errs) > 0 {
+		android.FailIfNoMatchingErrors(t, pattern, errs)
+		return
+	}
+	_, errs = ctx.PrepareBuildActions(config)
+	if len(errs) > 0 {
+		android.FailIfNoMatchingErrors(t, pattern, errs)
+		return
+	}
+
+	t.Fatalf("missing expected error %q (0 errors are returned)", pattern)
+}
+
 func testJava(t *testing.T, bp string) (*android.TestContext, android.Config) {
 	t.Helper()
 	config := testConfig(nil)