diff --git a/test/functional/test_framework/util.py b/test/functional/test_framework/util.py
index 0c190ee936b..03ece6f064a 100644
--- a/test/functional/test_framework/util.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_framework/util.py
@@ -165,13 +165,13 @@ def try_rpc(code, message, fun, *args, **kwds):
     try:
         fun(*args, **kwds)
     except JSONRPCException as e:
-        # JSONRPCException was thrown as expected. Check the code and message values are correct.
-        if (code is not None) and (code != e.error["code"]):
-            raise AssertionError("Unexpected JSONRPC error code %i" % e.error["code"])
+        # JSONRPCException was thrown as expected. Check the message and code values are correct.
         if (message is not None) and (message not in e.error['message']):
             raise AssertionError(
                 "Expected substring not found in error message:\nsubstring: '{}'\nerror message: '{}'.".format(
                     message, e.error['message']))
+        if (code is not None) and (code != e.error["code"]):
+            raise AssertionError("Unexpected JSONRPC error code %i" % e.error["code"])
         return True
     except Exception as e:
         raise AssertionError("Unexpected exception raised: " + type(e).__name__)