diff --git a/t/t2102-update-index-symlinks.sh b/t/t2102-update-index-symlinks.sh
index 4d0d0a35156..22f2c730ae8 100755
--- a/t/t2102-update-index-symlinks.sh
+++ b/t/t2102-update-index-symlinks.sh
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ git update-index symlink'
 
 test_expect_success \
 'the index entry must still be a symbolic link' '
-case "`git ls-files --stage --cached symlink`" in
+case "$(git ls-files --stage --cached symlink)" in
 120000" "*symlink) echo pass;;
 *) echo fail; git ls-files --stage --cached symlink; (exit 1);;
 esac'