diff --git a/tests/basic/test_watch.py b/tests/basic/test_watch.py
index f8d8ab8b4..f3fa50536 100644
--- a/tests/basic/test_watch.py
+++ b/tests/basic/test_watch.py
@@ -1,27 +1,20 @@
 from pathlib import Path
-
 from aider.watch import FileWatcher
 
 
 def test_ai_comment_pattern():
-    # Read fixture files
+    # Create a FileWatcher instance for testing
+    watcher = FileWatcher(None)
     fixtures_dir = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "fixtures"
 
-    with open(fixtures_dir / "watch.py") as f:
-        py_content = f.read()
-    with open(fixtures_dir / "watch.js") as f:
-        js_content = f.read()
+    # Test Python fixture
+    py_path = fixtures_dir / "watch.py"
+    py_lines, py_comments, py_has_bang = watcher.get_ai_comments(str(py_path))
+    assert len(py_lines) == 11, f"Expected 11 AI comments in Python fixture, found {len(py_lines)}"
+    assert py_has_bang, "Expected at least one bang (!) comment in Python fixture"
 
-    # Count AI comments in Python fixture
-    py_matches = 0
-    for line in py_content.splitlines():
-        if FileWatcher.ai_comment_pattern.search(line):
-            py_matches += 1
-    assert py_matches == 11, f"Expected 11 AI comments in Python fixture, found {py_matches}"
-
-    # Count AI comments in JavaScript fixture
-    js_matches = 0
-    for line in js_content.splitlines():
-        if FileWatcher.ai_comment_pattern.search(line):
-            js_matches += 1
-    assert js_matches == 11, f"Expected 11 AI comments in JavaScript fixture, found {js_matches}"
+    # Test JavaScript fixture
+    js_path = fixtures_dir / "watch.js"
+    js_lines, js_comments, js_has_bang = watcher.get_ai_comments(str(js_path))
+    assert len(js_lines) == 11, f"Expected 11 AI comments in JavaScript fixture, found {len(js_lines)}"
+    assert js_has_bang, "Expected at least one bang (!) comment in JavaScript fixture"