diff --git a/src/tests/JIT/Directed/lifetime/lifetime1.cs b/src/tests/JIT/Directed/lifetime/lifetime1.cs
index 02834ffc99a2d..c463fa38a297a 100644
--- a/src/tests/JIT/Directed/lifetime/lifetime1.cs
+++ b/src/tests/JIT/Directed/lifetime/lifetime1.cs
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ public static int f2()
     {
         A a = new A();
         a.F();
-        a = null;
 
         // Testcase 3
         Console.WriteLine();
@@ -63,6 +62,7 @@ public static int f2()
             Console.WriteLine("Testcase 3 FAILED");
             return -1;
         }
+        GC.KeepAlive(a);
         return 100;
     }