diff --git a/t/t7300-clean.sh b/t/t7300-clean.sh
index 710be9048..8dbe950bb 100755
--- a/t/t7300-clean.sh
+++ b/t/t7300-clean.sh
@@ -426,10 +426,10 @@ test_expect_success SANITY 'removal failure' '
 
 	mkdir foo &&
 	touch foo/bar &&
+	test_when_finished "chmod 755 foo" &&
 	(exec <foo/bar &&
 	 chmod 0 foo &&
-	 test_must_fail git clean -f -d &&
-	 chmod 755 foo)
+	 test_must_fail git clean -f -d)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'nested git work tree' '