diff --git a/pandas/io/tests/test_json/test_pandas.py b/pandas/io/tests/test_json/test_pandas.py
index e57eacc80647f..bc6ba1a45136c 100644
--- a/pandas/io/tests/test_json/test_pandas.py
+++ b/pandas/io/tests/test_json/test_pandas.py
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ def _check_all_orients(df, dtype=None, convert_axes=True, raise_ok=None):
         _check_all_orients(DataFrame(biggie, dtype=np.float64),
                            dtype=np.float64, convert_axes=False)
         _check_all_orients(DataFrame(biggie, dtype=np.int), dtype=np.int, convert_axes=False)
-        _check_all_orients(DataFrame(biggie, dtype='<U3'), dtype='<U3', convert_axes=False,
+        _check_all_orients(DataFrame(biggie, dtype='U3'), dtype='U3', convert_axes=False,
                            raise_ok=ValueError)
 
         # empty