diff --git a/t/t5703-upload-pack-ref-in-want.sh b/t/t5703-upload-pack-ref-in-want.sh
index 3a2c143c6d..88338c4e09 100755
--- a/t/t5703-upload-pack-ref-in-want.sh
+++ b/t/t5703-upload-pack-ref-in-want.sh
@@ -312,10 +312,9 @@ inconsistency () {
 	# repository appears to change during negotiation, for example, when
 	# different servers in a load-balancing arrangement serve (stateless)
 	# RPCs during a single negotiation.
-	printf "s/%s/%s/" \
-	       $(git -C "$REPO" rev-parse $1 | tr -d "\n") \
-	       $(git -C "$REPO" rev-parse $2 | tr -d "\n") \
-	       >"$HTTPD_ROOT_PATH/one-time-sed"
+	oid1=$(git -C "$REPO" rev-parse $1) &&
+	oid2=$(git -C "$REPO" rev-parse $2) &&
+	echo "s/$oid1/$oid2/" >"$HTTPD_ROOT_PATH/one-time-sed"
 }
 
 test_expect_success 'server is initially ahead - no ref in want' '