diff --git a/src/engine/SpatialJoin.cpp b/src/engine/SpatialJoin.cpp
index 0ae1b0d33c..169999f11a 100644
--- a/src/engine/SpatialJoin.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/SpatialJoin.cpp
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ PreparedSpatialJoinParams SpatialJoin::prepareJoin() const {
 Result SpatialJoin::computeResult([[maybe_unused]] bool requestLaziness) {
   AD_CONTRACT_CHECK(
       isConstructed(),
-      "SpatialJoin cannot be computed because at least one child is missing.");
+      "SpatialJoin needs two children, but at least one is missing");
   SpatialJoinAlgorithms algorithms{_executionContext, prepareJoin(), config_};
   if (config_->algo_ == SpatialJoinAlgorithm::BASELINE) {
     return algorithms.BaselineAlgorithm();
diff --git a/test/engine/SpatialJoinTest.cpp b/test/engine/SpatialJoinTest.cpp
index 844b2d5c33..ea671661d2 100644
--- a/test/engine/SpatialJoinTest.cpp
+++ b/test/engine/SpatialJoinTest.cpp
@@ -166,12 +166,12 @@ TEST(SpatialJoin, getChildren) {
   std::shared_ptr<Operation> op = spatialJoinOperation->getRootOperation();
   SpatialJoin* spatialJoin = static_cast<SpatialJoin*>(op.get());
 
-  ASSERT_ANY_THROW(spatialJoin->getChildren());
+  ASSERT_EQ(spatialJoin->getChildren().size(), 0);
 
   auto spJoin1 = spatialJoin->addChild(leftChild, point1.getVariable());
   spatialJoin = static_cast<SpatialJoin*>(spJoin1.get());
 
-  ASSERT_ANY_THROW(spatialJoin->getChildren());
+  ASSERT_EQ(spatialJoin->getChildren().size(), 1);
 
   auto spJoin2 = spatialJoin->addChild(rightChild, point2.getVariable());
   spatialJoin = static_cast<SpatialJoin*>(spJoin2.get());