diff --git a/logback-classic/src/test/java/ch/qos/logback/classic/encoder/JsonEncoderTest.java b/logback-classic/src/test/java/ch/qos/logback/classic/encoder/JsonEncoderTest.java
index 650a227d1a..92a7e7e462 100644
--- a/logback-classic/src/test/java/ch/qos/logback/classic/encoder/JsonEncoderTest.java
+++ b/logback-classic/src/test/java/ch/qos/logback/classic/encoder/JsonEncoderTest.java
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ void withMDC() throws JsonProcessingException {
 
     @Test
     void withThrowable() throws JsonProcessingException {
-        Throwable t = new RuntimeException("test", new IllegalStateException("test cause"));
+        Throwable t = new RuntimeException("test");
         LoggingEvent event = new LoggingEvent("in withThrowable test", logger, Level.WARN, "hello kvp", t, null);
 
         byte[] resultBytes = jsonEncoder.encode(event);