diff --git a/apps/emqx_connector/test/emqx_connector_jwt_worker_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx_connector/test/emqx_connector_jwt_worker_SUITE.erl
index e8355f746..eb104801c 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_connector/test/emqx_connector_jwt_worker_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_connector/test/emqx_connector_jwt_worker_SUITE.erl
@@ -127,8 +127,12 @@ t_unknown_error(_Config) ->
             1_000
         ),
         fun(Trace) ->
+            %% there seems to be some occasions when empty_key is
+            %% returned instead.
             ?assertMatch(
-                [#{error := {invalid_private_key, some_strange_error}}],
+                [#{error := Error}] when
+                    Error =:= {invalid_private_key, some_strange_error} orelse
+                        Error =:= empty_key,
                 ?of_kind(connector_jwt_worker_startup_error, Trace)
             ),
             ok