diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Balancing.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Balancing.hs
index bc5e28d72..19dc9dae2 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Balancing.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Balancing.hs
@@ -664,7 +664,6 @@ checkBalanceAssertionOneCommodityB p@Posting{paccount=assertedacct} assertedamt
         -- "display precision:  %d",
         "this balance was asserted:     %s", -- (at display precision: %s)",
         "but the calculated balance is: %s", -- (at display precision: %s)",
-        "a difference of:               %s",
         "",
         "To troubleshoot, you can view this account's running balance. Eg:",
         "",
@@ -680,7 +679,7 @@ checkBalanceAssertionOneCommodityB p@Posting{paccount=assertedacct} assertedamt
       -- (showAmount assertedamt)
       (show $ aquantity actualbalincomm)
       -- (showAmount actualbalincommodity)
-      (show $ aquantity assertedamt - aquantity actualbalincomm)
+      -- (show $ aquantity assertedamt - aquantity actualbalincomm)
       (acct ++ if isinclusive then "" else "$")
       (if istotal then "" else (" cur:" ++ quoteForCommandLine (T.unpack assertedcomm)))
       where
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/README.md b/hledger/test/errors/README.md
index 8c029cbe6..1e71430d0 100644
--- a/hledger/test/errors/README.md
+++ b/hledger/test/errors/README.md
@@ -186,7 +186,6 @@ In account:    a
 and commodity: 
 this balance was asserted:     1
 but the calculated balance is: 0
-a difference of:               1
 
 To troubleshoot, you can view this account's running balance. Eg:
 
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/assertions.test b/hledger/test/errors/assertions.test
index 9cb6f4583..b9dc584a3 100644
--- a/hledger/test/errors/assertions.test
+++ b/hledger/test/errors/assertions.test
@@ -11,6 +11,5 @@ In account:    a
 and commodity: 
 this balance was asserted:     1
 but the calculated balance is: 0
-a difference of:               1
 /
 >= 1
diff --git a/hledger/test/journal/balance-assertions.test b/hledger/test/journal/balance-assertions.test
index b3f6f9f37..6c232d537 100755
--- a/hledger/test/journal/balance-assertions.test
+++ b/hledger/test/journal/balance-assertions.test
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ commodity $1000.00
     (a)             $1.00  = $1.01
 
 $ hledger -f- print
->2 /a difference of.*0\.004/
+>2 /balance assertion failed/
 >=1
 
 # ** 25. This fails
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ commodity $1000.00
     (a)             $1.00  = $1.0061
 
 $ hledger -f- print
->2 /a difference of.*0\.0001/
+>2 /balance assertion failed/
 >=1
 
 # ** 26. Inclusive assertions include balances from subaccounts.