diff --git a/t/t0021-conversion.sh b/t/t0021-conversion.sh
index 1c840348bd1..963b66e08cd 100755
--- a/t/t0021-conversion.sh
+++ b/t/t0021-conversion.sh
@@ -735,7 +735,7 @@ test_expect_success PERL 'process filter should restart after unexpected write f
 		rm -f debug.log &&
 		git checkout --quiet --no-progress . 2>git-stderr.log &&
 
-		grep "smudge write error at" git-stderr.log &&
+		grep "smudge write error" git-stderr.log &&
 		test_i18ngrep "error: external filter" git-stderr.log &&
 
 		cat >expected.log <<-EOF &&