diff --git a/tests/file_staging.py b/tests/file_staging.py
index 76a9b3101..79903e961 100644
--- a/tests/file_staging.py
+++ b/tests/file_staging.py
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ def test_file_staging() -> None:
             filepath = datastager.get_filepath(filename)
         except FileNotFoundError:
             logger.debug(f"File not available as expected.")
+        else:
+            assert 0  # we shouldn't get here!
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":