diff --git a/t/t4205-log-pretty-formats.sh b/t/t4205-log-pretty-formats.sh
index e448ef2928..0404491d6e 100755
--- a/t/t4205-log-pretty-formats.sh
+++ b/t/t4205-log-pretty-formats.sh
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ test_expect_success 'NUL termination with --reflog --pretty=oneline' '
 	for r in $revs
 	do
 		git show -s --pretty=oneline "$r" >raw &&
-		cat raw | lf_to_nul || exit 1
+		cat raw | lf_to_nul || return 1
 	done >expect &&
 	# the trailing NUL is already produced so we do not need to
 	# output another one