diff --git a/t/t4208-log-magic-pathspec.sh b/t/t4208-log-magic-pathspec.sh
index a1705f70cf..62f335b2d9 100755
--- a/t/t4208-log-magic-pathspec.sh
+++ b/t/t4208-log-magic-pathspec.sh
@@ -45,8 +45,9 @@ test_expect_success 'git log -- :' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git log HEAD -- :/' '
+	initial=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD^) &&
 	cat >expected <<-EOF &&
-	24b24cf initial
+	$initial initial
 	EOF
 	(cd sub && git log --oneline HEAD -- :/ >../actual) &&
 	test_cmp expected actual