diff --git a/eclipse/src/plugin-test/maven.xml b/eclipse/src/plugin-test/maven.xml
index 650a5999..99a94761 100644
--- a/eclipse/src/plugin-test/maven.xml
+++ b/eclipse/src/plugin-test/maven.xml
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
  -->
-<project xmlns:j="jelly:core" xmlns:u="jelly:util">
+<project xmlns:j="jelly:core" 
+         xmlns:assert="assert" 
+         xmlns:u="jelly:util">
 
   <goal name="testPlugin" prereqs="test-eclipse">
   </goal>
@@ -25,14 +27,8 @@
     <delete file="${basedir}/.classpath" failonerror="false"/>
     <attainGoal name="eclipse"/>
 
-    <u:file var="expectedFile" name="${basedir}/.project"/>
-    <j:if test="${!expectedFile.exists()}">
-      <fail>${expectedFile} was not created</fail>
-    </j:if>
+    <assert:assertFileExists file="${basedir}/.project" />
+    <assert:assertFileExists file="${basedir}/.classpath" />
 
-    <u:file var="expectedFile" name="${basedir}/.classpath"/>
-    <j:if test="${!expectedFile.exists()}">
-      <fail>${expectedFile} was not created</fail>
-    </j:if>
   </goal>
 </project>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/eclipse/xdocs/changes.xml b/eclipse/xdocs/changes.xml
index d3949007..791bfd42 100644
--- a/eclipse/xdocs/changes.xml
+++ b/eclipse/xdocs/changes.xml
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
   </properties>
   <body>
     <release version="1.7-SNAPSHOT" date="in CVS">
+      <action dev="dion" type="update">use assert taglib for testing</action>
       <action dev="brett" type="update" issue="MPECLIPSE-21">Honour sourceModifications in classpath file</action>
       <action dev="dion" type="fix" issue="MPECLIPSE-22">used container for JRE classpath</action>
     </release>
