diff --git a/test/units/testsuite-38.sh b/test/units/testsuite-38.sh
index 5fc87fca7b0a1..2da5f4e9b9d5d 100755
--- a/test/units/testsuite-38.sh
+++ b/test/units/testsuite-38.sh
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ check_freezer_state() {
 
         # Ignore the intermediate freezing & thawing states in case we check
         # the unit state too quickly
-        [[ "$state" =~ ^(freezing|thawing)$ ]] || break
+        [[ "$state" =~ ^(freezing|thawing) ]] || break
         sleep .5
     done