diff --git a/src/main/java/io/reactivex/observers/BaseTestConsumer.java b/src/main/java/io/reactivex/observers/BaseTestConsumer.java
index a0f1d9fcc2..e3be6602ee 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/reactivex/observers/BaseTestConsumer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/reactivex/observers/BaseTestConsumer.java
@@ -132,8 +132,12 @@ protected final AssertionError fail(String message) {
 
         AssertionError ae = new AssertionError(b.toString());
         if (!errors.isEmpty()) {
-            CompositeException ce = new CompositeException(errors);
-            ae.initCause(ce);
+            if (errors.size() == 1) {
+                ae.initCause(errors.get(0));
+            } else {
+                CompositeException ce = new CompositeException(errors);
+                ae.initCause(ce);
+            }
         }
         return ae;
     }