diff --git a/test/simple/test-child-process-stdout-flush.js b/test/simple/test-child-process-stdout-flush.js
index 5c5bed230a0..8dc39c3a5b8 100644
--- a/test/simple/test-child-process-stdout-flush.js
+++ b/test/simple/test-child-process-stdout-flush.js
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ child.stderr.on('data', function(data) {
   assert.ok(false);
 });
 
-child.stderr.setEncoding('utf8');
+child.stdout.setEncoding('utf8');
 child.stdout.on('data', function(data) {
   count += data.length;
   console.log(count);