diff --git a/platformtest/platformtest.go b/platformtest/platformtest.go
index 7b7a1ed..e506ba7 100644
--- a/platformtest/platformtest.go
+++ b/platformtest/platformtest.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package platformtest
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
@@ -12,6 +13,8 @@ type Context struct {
 	RootDataset string
 }
 
+var FailNowSentinel = fmt.Errorf("platformtest: FailNow called on context")
+
 var _ assert.TestingT = (*Context)(nil)
 var _ require.TestingT = (*Context)(nil)
 
@@ -20,5 +23,5 @@ func (c *Context) Errorf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
 }
 
 func (c *Context) FailNow() {
-	panic(nil)
+	panic(FailNowSentinel)
 }