diff --git a/Lib/test/test_subprocess.py b/Lib/test/test_subprocess.py
index bd3b9b46f76..540ad34d3f5 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_subprocess.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_subprocess.py
@@ -2290,11 +2290,11 @@ class POSIXProcessTestCase(BaseTestCase):
         fds_to_keep = set(open_fds.pop() for _ in range(8))
         p = subprocess.Popen([sys.executable, fd_status],
                              stdout=subprocess.PIPE, close_fds=True,
-                             pass_fds=())
+                             pass_fds=fds_to_keep)
         output, ignored = p.communicate()
         remaining_fds = set(map(int, output.split(b',')))
 
-        self.assertFalse(remaining_fds & fds_to_keep & open_fds,
+        self.assertFalse((remaining_fds - fds_to_keep) & open_fds,
                          "Some fds not in pass_fds were left open")
         self.assertIn(1, remaining_fds, "Subprocess failed")