diff --git a/t/pack-refs-tests.sh b/t/pack-refs-tests.sh
index 2fdaccb6c7f86a..4a85d96c6bd608 100644
--- a/t/pack-refs-tests.sh
+++ b/t/pack-refs-tests.sh
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ test_expect_success 'see if a branch still exists after git ${pack_refs} --prune
 test_expect_success 'see if git ${pack_refs} --prune remove ref files' '
 	git branch f &&
 	git ${pack_refs} --all --prune &&
-	! test -f .git/refs/heads/f
+	test_path_is_missing .git/refs/heads/f
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'see if git ${pack_refs} --prune removes empty dirs' '