diff --git a/tests/test-lib.sh b/tests/test-lib.sh
index e612f8f215c2239e07891c9d59155d9cfbae2618..aff179c7929dbd5553275bfa4097e9c013c74eb0 100644
--- a/tests/test-lib.sh
+++ b/tests/test-lib.sh
@@ -248,9 +248,9 @@ trap '(exit $?); exit $?' 1 2 13 15
 
 cd "$t_" || error_ "failed to cd to $t_"
 
-if ( diff --version < /dev/null 2>&1 | grep GNU ) 2>&1 > /dev/null; then
+if ( diff --version < /dev/null 2>&1 | grep GNU ) > /dev/null 2>&1; then
   compare() { diff -u "$@"; }
-elif ( cmp --version < /dev/null 2>&1 | grep GNU ) 2>&1 > /dev/null; then
+elif ( cmp --version < /dev/null 2>&1 | grep GNU ) > /dev/null 2>&1; then
   compare() { cmp -s "$@"; }
 else
   compare() { cmp "$@"; }