diff --git b/tests/external_node_update.test a/tests/external_node_update.test
index 1d7f0d0..21f919e 100644
--- b/tests/external_node_update.test
+++ a/tests/external_node_update.test
@@ -61,7 +61,10 @@ class WorkbenchModerationExternalNodeUpdateTestCase extends WorkbenchModerationT
     $this->assertPublicationState(FALSE, 'A newly created node is not published.');
 
     // Resave the node and check that the status doesn't change.
-    $this->assertNodeUnchangedAfterResave();
+    $this->resaveNode();
+    $this->assertModerationStatus($expected, 'current', 'The moderation status is correct for a newly created node.');
+    $this->assertNoPublishedRecord('A newly created node does not have a published entry in the node history table.');
+    $this->assertPublicationState(FALSE, 'A newly created node is not published.');
 
     // Publish the node in an external module and check that the moderation
     // state changes accordingly.
@@ -73,7 +76,10 @@ class WorkbenchModerationExternalNodeUpdateTestCase extends WorkbenchModerationT
     $this->assertPublicationState(TRUE, 'A node which is published externally is actually published.');
 
     // Resave the node and check that the status doesn't change.
-    $this->assertNodeUnchangedAfterResave();
+    $this->resaveNode();
+    $this->assertModerationStatus($expected, 'current', 'The moderation state changed to "published" if the node is published externally.');
+    $this->assertModerationStatus($expected, 'published', 'A published moderation state record is created when the node is published externally.');
+    $this->assertPublicationState(TRUE, 'A node which is published externally is actually published.');
 
     // Unpublish the node in an external module and check that the moderation
     // state changes accordingly.
@@ -85,37 +91,18 @@ class WorkbenchModerationExternalNodeUpdateTestCase extends WorkbenchModerationT
     $this->assertPublicationState(FALSE, 'A node which is unpublished externally is actually unpublished.');
 
     // Resave the node and check that the status doesn't change.
-    $this->assertNodeUnchangedAfterResave();
+    $this->resaveNode();
+    $this->assertModerationStatus($expected, 'current', 'The moderation state changed to "draft" if the node is unpublished externally.');
+    $this->assertNoPublishedRecord('The published moderation state record is removed when the node is unpublished externally.');
+    $this->assertPublicationState(FALSE, 'A node which is unpublished externally is actually unpublished.');
   }
 
   /**
-   * Checks that the tested node doesn't change after it is resaved.
-   *
-   * @return
-   *   TRUE if the assertion succeeded, FALSE otherwise.
+   * Resave the node in an external module.
    */
-  public function assertNodeUnchangedAfterResave() {
-    // Retrieve the current status of the node.
-    $current = $this->getModerationRecord('current');
-    $published = $this->getModerationRecord('published');
-    $status = $this->node->status;
-
-    // Resave the node in an external module.
+  public function resaveNode() {
     $this->drupalGet('workbench_moderation_test/' . $this->node->nid);
     $this->refreshNode();
-
-    // Check if the status remains unchanged.
-    $success = TRUE;
-    $success |= $this->assertModerationStatus($current, 'current', 'The current moderation status doesn\'t change after resaving the node.');
-    if ($published) {
-      $success |= $this->assertModerationStatus($published, 'published', 'The published moderation status doesn\'t change after resaving the node.');
-    }
-    else {
-      $success |= $this->assertNoPublishedRecord('The node does not get a published entry in the node history table after resaving.');
-    }
-    $success |= $this->assertEqual($status, $this->node->status, 'The publication state remains unchanged after resaving.');
-
-    return $this->assertTrue($success, 'The node has remained unchanged after resaving.');
   }
 
   /**