diff --git a/expect.js b/expect.js
index 7d47e95..4c0ed47 100644
--- a/expect.js
+++ b/expect.js
@@ -161,9 +161,9 @@
       thrown = true;
     }
 
-    if (isRegExp(fn) && not) {
-      // in the presence of a matcher, ensure the `not` only applies to
-      // the matching.
+    if (thrown && not && isRegExp(fn)) {
+      // in the presence of a matcher and an error actually is thrown,
+      // ensure the `not` only applies to the matching.
       this.flags.not = false;
     }
 
diff --git a/test/expect.js b/test/expect.js
index 7b24cdf..5d6d508 100644
--- a/test/expect.js
+++ b/test/expect.js
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ describe('expect', function () {
 
     expect(itThrowsString).to.throwException(/aaa/);
     expect(itThrowsString).to.not.throwException(/bbb/);
+    expect(itWorks).to.not.throwException(/ccc/);
 
     err(function () {
       expect(itThrowsString).to.throwException(/no match/i);