diff --git a/eth/tools/fixtures/helpers.py b/eth/tools/fixtures/helpers.py
index 6cb767cdac..099d61c928 100644
--- a/eth/tools/fixtures/helpers.py
+++ b/eth/tools/fixtures/helpers.py
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ def verify_account_db(expected_state: AccountState, account_db: BaseAccountDB) -
                         'balance',
                         actual_value,
                         expected_value,
-                        expected_value - actual_value,
+                        actual_value - expected_value,
                     )
                 )
             else: