diff --git a/R/tbl_cross.R b/R/tbl_cross.R
index dacb84f38..d5f1dcd1a 100644
--- a/R/tbl_cross.R
+++ b/R/tbl_cross.R
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ tbl_cross <- function(data,
 
   # check inputs ---------------------------------------------------------------
   check_not_missing(data)
-  if (!missing(row) + !missing(col) == 1L) {
+  if (sum(!missing(row), !missing(col)) == 1L) {
     cli::cli_abort(
       "Specify both {.arg row} and {.arg col} arguments or neither.",
       call = get_cli_abort_call()
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/tbl_cross.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/tbl_cross.md
index 0958ececb..d22d52aa9 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/tbl_cross.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/tbl_cross.md
@@ -79,9 +79,7 @@
       tbl_cross(trial, col = trt)
     Condition
       Error in `tbl_cross()`:
-      ! Error processing `type` argument.
-      ! i In argument: `all_of(row)`. Caused by error in `all_of()`: ! Can't subset elements that don't exist. x Element `trt` doesn't exist.
-      i Select among columns "..total.."
+      ! Specify both `row` and `col` arguments or neither.
 
 ---