diff --git a/t/t5534-push-signed.sh b/t/t5534-push-signed.sh
index ecb8d446a5..2db0c3389c 100755
--- a/t/t5534-push-signed.sh
+++ b/t/t5534-push-signed.sh
@@ -119,8 +119,11 @@ test_expect_success GPG 'signed push sends push certificate' '
 		sed -n -e "s/^nonce /NONCE=/p" -e "/^$/q" dst/push-cert
 	) >expect &&
 
-	grep "$(git rev-parse noop ff) refs/heads/ff" dst/push-cert &&
-	grep "$(git rev-parse noop noff) refs/heads/noff" dst/push-cert &&
+	noop=$(git rev-parse noop) &&
+	ff=$(git rev-parse ff) &&
+	noff=$(git rev-parse noff) &&
+	grep "$noop $ff refs/heads/ff" dst/push-cert &&
+	grep "$noop $noff refs/heads/noff" dst/push-cert &&
 	test_cmp expect dst/push-cert-status
 '
 
@@ -163,8 +166,11 @@ test_expect_success GPG 'fail without key and heed user.signingkey' '
 		sed -n -e "s/^nonce /NONCE=/p" -e "/^$/q" dst/push-cert
 	) >expect &&
 
-	grep "$(git rev-parse noop ff) refs/heads/ff" dst/push-cert &&
-	grep "$(git rev-parse noop noff) refs/heads/noff" dst/push-cert &&
+	noop=$(git rev-parse noop) &&
+	ff=$(git rev-parse ff) &&
+	noff=$(git rev-parse noff) &&
+	grep "$noop $ff refs/heads/ff" dst/push-cert &&
+	grep "$noop $noff refs/heads/noff" dst/push-cert &&
 	test_cmp expect dst/push-cert-status
 '