diff --git a/t/test-lib.sh b/t/test-lib.sh
index 281c1eca092..bc20185b51b 100644
--- a/t/test-lib.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib.sh
@@ -532,12 +532,17 @@ test_run_ () {
 	expecting_failure=$2
 
 	if test "${GIT_TEST_CHAIN_LINT:-1}" != 0; then
+		# turn off tracing for this test-eval, as it simply creates
+		# confusing noise in the "-x" output
+		trace_tmp=$trace
+		trace=
 		# 117 is magic because it is unlikely to match the exit
 		# code of other programs
 		test_eval_ "(exit 117) && $1"
 		if test "$?" != 117; then
 			error "bug in the test script: broken &&-chain: $1"
 		fi
+		trace=$trace_tmp
 	fi
 
 	setup_malloc_check