diff --git a/src/test/java/org/yaml/snakeyaml/issues/issue377/BillionLaughsAttackTest.java b/src/test/java/org/yaml/snakeyaml/issues/issue377/BillionLaughsAttackTest.java
index e87f330..28c836b 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/yaml/snakeyaml/issues/issue377/BillionLaughsAttackTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/yaml/snakeyaml/issues/issue377/BillionLaughsAttackTest.java
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ public class BillionLaughsAttackTest {
             map.toString();
             fail("Expected overflow");
         } catch (Throwable e) {
-            assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("heap"));
+            final String message = e.getMessage();
+            assertTrue(message == null || message.contains("heap"));
         }
     }