diff --git a/t/t1400-update-ref.sh b/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
index db7f5444da..477af544bc 100755
--- a/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
+++ b/t/t1400-update-ref.sh
@@ -1610,6 +1610,7 @@ test_expect_success 'transaction cannot restart ongoing transaction' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success PIPE 'transaction flushes status updates' '
+	test_when_finished "rm -f in out" &&
 	mkfifo in out &&
 	(git update-ref --stdin <in >out &) &&