diff --git a/course/tests/externallib_test.php b/course/tests/externallib_test.php
index b30e4421551..9d0cb22fc25 100644
--- a/course/tests/externallib_test.php
+++ b/course/tests/externallib_test.php
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ class core_course_externallib_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
                     $course3options['numsections']);
                 $this->assertEquals($courseinfo->coursedisplay, $course3options['coursedisplay']);
             } else {
-                throw moodle_exception('Unexpected shortname');
+                throw new moodle_exception('Unexpected shortname');
             }
         }
 
@@ -1161,7 +1161,7 @@ class core_course_externallib_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
                 $this->assertEquals(0, $courseinfo->newsitems);
                 $this->assertEquals(FORMAT_MOODLE, $courseinfo->summaryformat);
             } else {
-                throw moodle_exception('Unexpected shortname');
+                throw new moodle_exception('Unexpected shortname');
             }
         }