diff --git a/internal/zero/controller/databroker_restart_test.go b/internal/zero/controller/databroker_restart_test.go
index 11bbd7f1e..8c25ad530 100644
--- a/internal/zero/controller/databroker_restart_test.go
+++ b/internal/zero/controller/databroker_restart_test.go
@@ -108,6 +108,6 @@ func TestDatabrokerRestart(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		require.Equal(t, 2, count)
-		require.NotEqual(t, clients[0], clients[1])
+		require.NotSame(t, clients[0], clients[1])
 	})
 }