diff --git a/t/t5504-fetch-receive-strict.sh b/t/t5504-fetch-receive-strict.sh
index 44f3d5fb28..182f42ee2d 100755
--- a/t/t5504-fetch-receive-strict.sh
+++ b/t/t5504-fetch-receive-strict.sh
@@ -101,7 +101,10 @@ test_expect_success 'push with receive.fsckobjects' '
 		git config transfer.fsckobjects false
 	) &&
 	test_must_fail git push --porcelain dst master:refs/heads/test >act &&
-	test_cmp exp act
+	if ! test_cmp exp act
+	then
+		test ! -s act
+	fi
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'push with transfer.fsckobjects' '
@@ -112,7 +115,10 @@ test_expect_success 'push with transfer.fsckobjects' '
 		git config transfer.fsckobjects true
 	) &&
 	test_must_fail git push --porcelain dst master:refs/heads/test >act &&
-	test_cmp exp act
+	if ! test_cmp exp act
+	then
+		test ! -s act
+	fi
 '
 
 cat >bogus-commit <<\EOF