diff --git a/t/t6120-describe.sh b/t/t6120-describe.sh
index 88fddc9142..a83ea15faa 100755
--- a/t/t6120-describe.sh
+++ b/t/t6120-describe.sh
@@ -151,24 +151,24 @@ test_expect_success 'set-up dirty work tree' '
 	echo >>file
 '
 
-check_describe "A-*[0-9a-f]-dirty" --dirty
-
 test_expect_success 'describe --dirty with --work-tree (dirty)' '
+	git describe --dirty >expected &&
 	(
 		cd "$TEST_DIRECTORY" &&
 		git --git-dir "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/.git" --work-tree "$TRASH_DIRECTORY" describe --dirty >"$TRASH_DIRECTORY/out"
 	) &&
-	grep -E "^A-[1-9][0-9]?-g[0-9a-f]+-dirty$" out
+	grep -E "^A-[1-9][0-9]?-g[0-9a-f]+-dirty$" out &&
+	test_cmp expected out
 '
 
-check_describe "A-*[0-9a-f].mod" --dirty=.mod
-
 test_expect_success 'describe --dirty=.mod with --work-tree (dirty)' '
+	git describe --dirty=.mod >expected &&
 	(
 		cd "$TEST_DIRECTORY" &&
 		git --git-dir "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/.git" --work-tree "$TRASH_DIRECTORY" describe --dirty=.mod >"$TRASH_DIRECTORY/out"
 	) &&
-	grep -E "^A-[1-9][0-9]?-g[0-9a-f]+.mod$" out
+	grep -E "^A-[1-9][0-9]?-g[0-9a-f]+.mod$" out &&
+	test_cmp expected out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'describe --dirty HEAD' '