diff --git a/tests/usbprotocol/test_comms.py b/tests/usbprotocol/test_comms.py
index b7e6801380..c05baa09fd 100644
--- a/tests/usbprotocol/test_comms.py
+++ b/tests/usbprotocol/test_comms.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def test_tx_queues(self):
     lpp.comms_can_reset()
 
     for bus in range(len(TX_QUEUES)):
-      message = (0x100, b"test", bus)
+      message = (0x100, b"test1", bus)
 
       can_pkt_tx = libpanda_py.make_CANPacket(message[0], message[2], message[1], lpp, ffi)
       can_pkt_rx = ffi.new('CANPacket_t *')
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def test_comms_reset_rx(self):
     lpp.comms_can_reset()
 
     self.my_id = id(lpp.tx1_q)
-    test_msg = (0x100, b"test", 0)
+    test_msg = (0x100, b"test2", 0)
     for _ in range(100):
       can_pkt_tx = libpanda_py.make_CANPacket(test_msg[0], test_msg[2], test_msg[1], lpp, ffi)
       lpp.can_push(lpp.rx_q, can_pkt_tx)
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ def test_comms_reset_tx(self):
     lpp.set_safety_hooks(Panda.SAFETY_ALLOUTPUT, 0)
 
     # store some test messages in the queue
-    test_msg = (0x100, b"test", 0)
+    test_msg = (0x100, b"test3", 0)
     packed = pack_can_buffer([test_msg for _ in range(100)])
 
     # write a small chunk such that we have some overflow