diff --git a/src/main/java/spoon/testing/AbstractCtElementAssert.java b/src/main/java/spoon/testing/AbstractCtElementAssert.java
index 6e521fc74b5..9e2c5931a19 100644
--- a/src/main/java/spoon/testing/AbstractCtElementAssert.java
+++ b/src/main/java/spoon/testing/AbstractCtElementAssert.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 
 import spoon.reflect.declaration.CtElement;
 
+import static spoon.testing.utils.Check.assertCtElementEquals;
 import static spoon.testing.utils.Check.assertNotNull;
 import static spoon.testing.utils.Check.assertIsSame;
 import static spoon.testing.utils.ProcessorUtils.process;
@@ -40,9 +41,9 @@ public T isEqualTo(CtElement expected) {
 
 		process(actual.getFactory(), processors);
 
-		if (!actual.equals(expected)) {
-			throw new AssertionError();
-		}
+		// using the new method to have a nice error message
+		assertCtElementEquals(expected, actual);
+
 		return this.myself;
 	}