diff --git a/tests/src/unit-deserialization.cpp b/tests/src/unit-deserialization.cpp
index 06ae503e1..ed502f173 100644
--- a/tests/src/unit-deserialization.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/unit-deserialization.cpp
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ TEST_CASE("deserialization")
 
         SECTION("FILE*")
         {
-            std::FILE* f = std::fopen("nonexisting_file", "r"); // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-owning-memory)
+            std::FILE* f = nullptr;
             json _;
             CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(_ = json::parse(f), "[json.exception.parse_error.116] parse error: input file is invalid", json::parse_error&);
             CHECK_THROWS_WITH_AS(_ = json::accept(f), "[json.exception.parse_error.116] parse error: input file is invalid", json::parse_error&);