diff --git a/Lib/test/test_statistics.py b/Lib/test/test_statistics.py
index adccfad7b8e..2853b1b2b2f 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_statistics.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_statistics.py
@@ -1897,10 +1897,13 @@ def test_none_data(self):
 
     def test_counter_data(self):
         # Test that a Counter is treated like any other iterable.
-        data = collections.Counter([1, 1, 1, 2])
-        # Since the keys of the counter are treated as data points, not the
-        # counts, this should return the first mode encountered, 1
-        self.assertEqual(self.func(data), 1)
+        # We're making sure mode() first calls iter() on its input.
+        # The concern is that a Counter of a Counter returns the original
+        # unchanged rather than counting its keys.
+        c = collections.Counter(a=1, b=2)
+        # If iter() is called, mode(c) loops over the keys, ['a', 'b'],
+        # all the counts will be 1, and the first encountered mode is 'a'.
+        self.assertEqual(self.func(c), 'a')
 
 
 class TestMultiMode(unittest.TestCase):