diff --git a/t/test-lib.sh b/t/test-lib.sh
index 50b3d3f45..281c1eca0 100644
--- a/t/test-lib.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib.sh
@@ -531,7 +531,7 @@ test_run_ () {
 	test_cleanup=:
 	expecting_failure=$2
 
-	if test "${GIT_TEST_CHAIN_LINT:-0}" != 0; then
+	if test "${GIT_TEST_CHAIN_LINT:-1}" != 0; then
 		# 117 is magic because it is unlikely to match the exit
 		# code of other programs
 		test_eval_ "(exit 117) && $1"