diff --git a/t/t7004-tag.sh b/t/t7004-tag.sh
index faf7d97fc4..77a7a9777d 100755
--- a/t/t7004-tag.sh
+++ b/t/t7004-tag.sh
@@ -191,15 +191,14 @@ test_expect_success 'trying to create a tag with the name of one existing should
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'trying to create a tag with a non-valid name should fail' '
-	git tag -l >actual &&
-	test_line_count = 1 actual &&
+	git tag -l >tags-before &&
 	test_must_fail git tag "" &&
 	test_must_fail git tag .othertag &&
 	test_must_fail git tag "other tag" &&
 	test_must_fail git tag "othertag^" &&
 	test_must_fail git tag "other~tag" &&
-	git tag -l >actual &&
-	test_line_count = 1 actual
+	git tag -l >tags-after &&
+	test_cmp tags-before tags-after
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'creating a tag using HEAD directly should succeed' '