diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/persistence_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/persistence_test.rb
index f85247156a580..2ca68cf509924 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/persistence_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/persistence_test.rb
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def test_update_many_with_array_of_active_record_base_objects
     "Please pass the ids of the objects by calling `pluck(:id)` or `map(&:id)`.", error.message
 
     assert_not_equal "updated", Topic.first.content
-    assert_not_equal "updated", Topic.second
+    assert_not_equal "updated", Topic.second.content
   end
 
   def test_class_level_update_without_ids