diff --git a/t/t7400-submodule-basic.sh b/t/t7400-submodule-basic.sh
index e1abd19230..cf06b2f8c3 100755
--- a/t/t7400-submodule-basic.sh
+++ b/t/t7400-submodule-basic.sh
@@ -857,7 +857,7 @@ test_expect_success 'submodule deinit works on repository without submodules' '
 		git init &&
 		>file &&
 		git add file &&
-		git commit -m "repo should not be empty"
+		git commit -m "repo should not be empty" &&
 		git submodule deinit .
 	)
 '