diff --git a/t/t1400-update-ref.sh b/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
index d17551eb72..ff747f8229 100755
--- a/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
+++ b/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
@@ -52,9 +52,8 @@ rm -f .git/$m
 
 test_expect_success \
 	"fail to create $n" \
-	"touch .git/$n_dir
-	 git update-ref $n $A >out 2>err"'
-	 test $? != 0'
+	"touch .git/$n_dir &&
+	 test_must_fail git update-ref $n $A >out 2>err"
 rm -f .git/$n_dir out err
 
 test_expect_success \