diff --git a/_pytest/assertion/rewrite.py b/_pytest/assertion/rewrite.py
index fae313e30..97263cd69 100644
--- a/_pytest/assertion/rewrite.py
+++ b/_pytest/assertion/rewrite.py
@@ -775,10 +775,7 @@ class AssertionRewriter(ast.NodeVisitor):
         new_kwargs = []
         for arg in call.args:
             res, expl = self.visit(arg)
-            if type(arg) is ast.Starred:
-                arg_expls.append("*" + expl)
-            else:
-                arg_expls.append(expl)
+            arg_expls.append(expl)
             new_args.append(res)
         for keyword in call.keywords:
             res, expl = self.visit(keyword.value)
@@ -795,6 +792,11 @@ class AssertionRewriter(ast.NodeVisitor):
         outer_expl = "%s\n{%s = %s\n}" % (res_expl, res_expl, expl)
         return res, outer_expl
 
+    def visit_Starred(self, starred):
+        # From Python 3.5, a Starred node can appear in a function call
+        res, expl = self.visit(starred.value)
+        return starred, '*' + expl
+
     def visit_Call_legacy(self, call):
         """
         visit `ast.Call nodes on 3.4 and below`