diff --git a/sequencing/pom.xml b/sequencing/pom.xml
index 6f132a0..5db3c50 100644
--- a/sequencing/pom.xml
+++ b/sequencing/pom.xml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
       <dependency>
         <groupId>com.google.guava</groupId>
         <artifactId>guava</artifactId>
-        <version>30.1.1-jre</version>
+        <version>31.0.1-jre</version>
       </dependency>
     </dependencies>
   </dependencyManagement>
diff --git a/sequencing/src/test/java/org/biojava/bio/program/fastq/IlluminaFastqReaderTest.java b/sequencing/src/test/java/org/biojava/bio/program/fastq/IlluminaFastqReaderTest.java
index b2c5830..61f159c 100755
--- a/sequencing/src/test/java/org/biojava/bio/program/fastq/IlluminaFastqReaderTest.java
+++ b/sequencing/src/test/java/org/biojava/bio/program/fastq/IlluminaFastqReaderTest.java
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public void testValidateDescription() throws Exception
         }
         catch (IOException e)
         {
-            assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("description must begin with a '@' character"));
+            assertTrue(e.getCause().getMessage().contains("description must begin with a '@' character"));
         }
     }
 
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public void testValidateRepeatDescription() throws Exception
         }
         catch (IOException e)
         {
-            assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("repeat description must match description"));
+            assertTrue(e.getCause().getMessage().contains("repeat description must match description"));
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/sequencing/src/test/java/org/biojava/bio/program/fastq/SangerFastqReaderTest.java b/sequencing/src/test/java/org/biojava/bio/program/fastq/SangerFastqReaderTest.java
index 5a0d690..4bc68be 100755
--- a/sequencing/src/test/java/org/biojava/bio/program/fastq/SangerFastqReaderTest.java
+++ b/sequencing/src/test/java/org/biojava/bio/program/fastq/SangerFastqReaderTest.java
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public void testValidateDescription() throws Exception
         }
         catch (IOException e)
         {
-            assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("description must begin with a '@' character"));
+            assertTrue(e.getCause().getMessage().contains("description must begin with a '@' character"));
         }
     }
 
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public void testValidateRepeatDescription() throws Exception
         }
         catch (IOException e)
         {
-            assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("repeat description must match description"));
+            assertTrue(e.getCause().getMessage().contains("repeat description must match description"));
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/sequencing/src/test/java/org/biojava/bio/program/fastq/SolexaFastqReaderTest.java b/sequencing/src/test/java/org/biojava/bio/program/fastq/SolexaFastqReaderTest.java
index 208e7ba..bc3360b 100755
--- a/sequencing/src/test/java/org/biojava/bio/program/fastq/SolexaFastqReaderTest.java
+++ b/sequencing/src/test/java/org/biojava/bio/program/fastq/SolexaFastqReaderTest.java
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public void testValidateDescription() throws Exception
         }
         catch (IOException e)
         {
-            assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("description must begin with a '@' character"));
+            assertTrue(e.getCause().getMessage().contains("description must begin with a '@' character"));
         }
     }
 
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public void testValidateRepeatDescription() throws Exception
         }
         catch (IOException e)
         {
-            assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("repeat description must match description"));
+            assertTrue(e.getCause().getMessage().contains("repeat description must match description"));
         }
     }