diff --git a/contrib/remote-helpers/test-bzr.sh b/contrib/remote-helpers/test-bzr.sh
index 70aa8a010..b81052b61 100755
--- a/contrib/remote-helpers/test-bzr.sh
+++ b/contrib/remote-helpers/test-bzr.sh
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ test_expect_success 'special modes' '
   (cd gitrepo &&
   git cat-file -p HEAD:link > ../actual) &&
 
-  echo -n content > expected &&
+  printf content > expected &&
   test_cmp expected actual
 '