diff --git a/rclcpp/test/rclcpp/node_interfaces/test_node_graph.cpp b/rclcpp/test/rclcpp/node_interfaces/test_node_graph.cpp
index c25af15422..e1a0b1e1e7 100644
--- a/rclcpp/test/rclcpp/node_interfaces/test_node_graph.cpp
+++ b/rclcpp/test/rclcpp/node_interfaces/test_node_graph.cpp
@@ -131,7 +131,8 @@ TEST_F(TestNodeGraph, construct_from_node)
   EXPECT_NE(nullptr, node_graph()->get_graph_guard_condition());
 
   // get_graph_event is non-const
-  EXPECT_NE(nullptr, node()->get_node_graph_interface()->get_graph_event());
+  auto event = node()->get_node_graph_interface()->get_graph_event();
+  EXPECT_NE(nullptr, event);
   EXPECT_LE(1u, node_graph()->count_graph_users());
 }