diff --git a/t/t9400-git-cvsserver-server.sh b/t/t9400-git-cvsserver-server.sh
index 9199550ef4..173bf3d4af 100755
--- a/t/t9400-git-cvsserver-server.sh
+++ b/t/t9400-git-cvsserver-server.sh
@@ -500,8 +500,8 @@ test_expect_success 'cvs status (no subdirs in header)' '
 cd "$WORKDIR"
 test_expect_success 'cvs co -c (shows module database)' '
     GIT_CONFIG="$git_config" cvs co -c > out &&
-    grep "^master[	 ]\+master$" < out &&
-    ! grep -v "^master[	 ]\+master$" < out
+    grep "^master[	 ][ 	]*master$" <out &&
+    ! grep -v "^master[	 ][ 	]*master$" <out
 '
 
 #------------