diff --git a/gorm.go b/gorm.go
index b1544d33..52cbd554 100644
--- a/gorm.go
+++ b/gorm.go
@@ -401,11 +401,11 @@ func Expr(expr string, args ...interface{}) clause.Expr {
 // ExprToString clause.Expression Build to SQL String
 func (db *DB) ExprToString(expr clause.Expression) string {
 	stmt := &Statement{
-		DB:      db,
+		DB:      db.Session(&Session{DryRun: true, SkipDefaultTransaction: true}),
 		Clauses: map[string]clause.Clause{},
 	}
 	expr.Build(stmt)
-	return db.Dialector.Explain(stmt.SQL.String(), stmt.Vars...)
+	return stmt.DB.Dialector.Explain(stmt.SQL.String(), stmt.Vars...)
 }
 
 // SetupJoinTable setup join table schema
diff --git a/tests/sql_builder_test.go b/tests/sql_builder_test.go
index e6c5f557..24356f18 100644
--- a/tests/sql_builder_test.go
+++ b/tests/sql_builder_test.go
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ func TestExprToString(t *testing.T) {
 	wantSQL := "((`age` > 10 AND `age` < 18) AND (`age` > 18 AND `age` < 21))"
 	gotSQL := DB.ExprToString(clause.And(exprs...))
 	if wantSQL != gotSQL {
-		t.Fatalf("want: %s \n, got: %s", wantSQL, gotSQL)
+		t.Errorf("want: %s \n, got: %s", wantSQL, gotSQL)
 	}
 
 	sql := DB.ToSQL(func(tx *gorm.DB) *gorm.DB {
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ func TestExprToString(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	wantSQL = "SELECT * FROM `users` WHERE start_time >= 1234 AND (((`age` > 10 AND `age` < 18) AND (`age` > 18 AND `age` < 21))) AND `users`.`deleted_at` IS NULL"
 	if wantSQL != sql {
-		t.Fatalf("want: %s \n, got: %s", wantSQL, sql)
+		t.Errorf("want: %s \n, got: %s", wantSQL, sql)
 	}
 }