diff --git a/t/t9902-completion.sh b/t/t9902-completion.sh
index 2f9a597ec7..28f61f08fb 100755
--- a/t/t9902-completion.sh
+++ b/t/t9902-completion.sh
@@ -590,12 +590,10 @@ test_expect_success '__gitcomp - doesnt fail because of invalid variable name' '
 	__gitcomp "$invalid_variable_name"
 '
 
-read -r -d "" refs <<-\EOF
-main
+refs='main
 maint
 next
-seen
-EOF
+seen'
 
 test_expect_success '__gitcomp_nl - trailing space' '
 	test_gitcomp_nl "m" "$refs" <<-EOF