diff --git a/t/t0008-ignores.sh b/t/t0008-ignores.sh
index e716b5cdfa..d77a179bdd 100755
--- a/t/t0008-ignores.sh
+++ b/t/t0008-ignores.sh
@@ -122,8 +122,8 @@ test_expect_success_multiple () {
 	fi
 	testname="$1" expect_all="$2" code="$3"
 
-	expect_verbose=$( echo "$expect_all" | grep -v '^::	' )
-	expect=$( echo "$expect_verbose" | sed -e 's/.*	//' )
+	expect_verbose=$(echo "$expect_all" | grep -v '^::	' || :)
+	expect=$(echo "$expect_verbose" | sed -e 's/.*	//')
 
 	test_expect_success $prereq "$testname${no_index_opt:+ with $no_index_opt}" '
 		expect "$expect" &&