diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index a6fbc0876..6f042ac19 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -61,8 +61,10 @@ def configure_epics_environment():
 
 
 _ALLOWED_PYTEST_TASKS = {"async_finalizer", "async_setup", "async_teardown"}
+
+
 def _error_and_kill_pending_tasks(
-    loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop, test_name: str, test_failed: bool
+    loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop, test_name: str, test_passed: bool
 ) -> set[asyncio.Task]:
     """Cancels pending tasks in the event loop for a test. Raises an exception if
     the test hasn't already.
@@ -70,7 +72,7 @@ def _error_and_kill_pending_tasks(
     Args:
         loop: The event loop to check for pending tasks.
         test_name: The name of the test.
-        test_failed: Indicates whether the test has failed.
+        test_passed: Indicates whether the test passed.
 
     Returns:
         set[asyncio.Task]: The set of unfinished tasks that were cancelled.
@@ -79,7 +81,6 @@ def _error_and_kill_pending_tasks(
         RuntimeError: If there are unfinished tasks and the test didn't fail.
     """
     unfinished_tasks = {
-
         task
         for task in asyncio.all_tasks(loop)
         if task.get_coro().__name__ not in _ALLOWED_PYTEST_TASKS and not task.done()
@@ -87,13 +88,13 @@ def _error_and_kill_pending_tasks(
     for task in unfinished_tasks:
         task.cancel()
 
-    # We only raise an exception here if the test didn't fail.
+    # We only raise an exception here if the test didn't fail anyway.
     # If it did then it makes sense that there's some tasks we need to cancel,
     # but an exception will already have been raised.
-    if unfinished_tasks and not test_failed:
+    if unfinished_tasks and test_passed:
         raise RuntimeError(
             f"Not all tasks closed during test {test_name}:\n"
-            f"{pprint.pformat(unfinished_tasks)}"
+            f"{pprint.pformat(unfinished_tasks, width=88)}"
         )
 
     return unfinished_tasks
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ def fail_test_on_unclosed_tasks(request: FixtureRequest):
 
     request.addfinalizer(
         lambda: _error_and_kill_pending_tasks(
-            loop, request.node.name, request.session.testsfailed != fail_count
+            loop, request.node.name, request.session.testsfailed == fail_count
         )
     )
 
@@ -131,20 +132,16 @@ def clean_event_loop():
             except TransitionError:
                 pass
 
-
         loop.call_soon_threadsafe(loop.stop)
         RE._th.join()
 
         try:
             _error_and_kill_pending_tasks(
-                loop,
-                request.node.name,
-                request.session.testsfailed != fail_count
+                loop, request.node.name, request.session.testsfailed == fail_count
             )
         finally:
             loop.close()
 
-
     request.addfinalizer(clean_event_loop)
     return RE