diff --git a/src/testdir/test_spell_utf8.vim b/src/testdir/test_spell_utf8.vim
index fe80689..c71308b 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_spell_utf8.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_spell_utf8.vim
@@ -779,7 +779,12 @@
       
   END
   call setline(1, lines)
-  exe "%norm \<C-v>ez=>\<C-v>wzG"
+  try
+    exe "%norm \<C-v>ez=>\<C-v>wzG"
+  catch /E1280:/
+    let caught = 'yes'
+  endtry
+  call assert_equal('yes', caught)
 
   bwipe!
 endfunc