handle the default state and improve error message

kwargs.jl

@@ -16,8 +16,10 @@ function kwargs(; coverage::Bool,
 
     if VERSION >= v"1.6.0"
         kwargs_dict[:julia_args] = julia_args
-    elseif julia_args != ``
-        println("::warning::The `julia_args` option requires at least Julia 1.6. VERSION=$VERSION, julia_args=$julia_args")
+    elseif julia_args == ["--check-bounds=yes"]
+        # silently don't add this default julia_args value as < 1.6 doesn't support julia_args, but it's the default state
+    else
+        println("::warning::The Pkg.test bounds checking behavior cannot be changed before Julia 1.6. VERSION=$VERSION, julia_args=$julia_args")
     end
 
     if VERSION < v"1.7.0-" || !hasmethod(Pkg.Operations.test, Tuple{Pkg.Types.Context, Vector{Pkg.Types.PackageSpec}}, (:force_latest_compatible_version,))