diff --git a/t/t6301-for-each-ref-errors.sh b/t/t6301-for-each-ref-errors.sh
index 49cc65bb58..809854fc0c 100755
--- a/t/t6301-for-each-ref-errors.sh
+++ b/t/t6301-for-each-ref-errors.sh
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@ test_description='for-each-ref errors for broken refs'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 ZEROS=$ZERO_OID
-MISSING=abababababababababababababababababababab
 
 test_expect_success setup '
+	MISSING=$(test_oid deadbeef) &&
 	git commit --allow-empty -m "Initial" &&
 	git tag testtag &&
 	git for-each-ref >full-list &&