patch, 12 partst5520: various test cleanup

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index cf4cc32fd0..51d6ce8aec 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -538,7 +538,6 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-m
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
-
 	git remote add -f me . &&
 	git checkout copy &&
 	git tag copy-orig &&
@@ -552,7 +551,6 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
 	git pull --rebase me copy &&
 	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
 	test file = "$(cat file2)"
-
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase -f with rebased upstream' '
@@ -564,14 +562,12 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase -f with rebased upstream' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased default upstream' '
-
 	git update-ref refs/remotes/me/copy copy-orig &&
 	git checkout --track -b to-rebase2 me/copy &&
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase &&
 	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
 	test file = "$(cat file2)"
-
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
@@ -588,7 +584,6 @@ test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
-
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
 	git update-ref refs/remotes/me/copy copy^ &&
 	COPY="$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)" &&
@@ -603,16 +598,16 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
 	git checkout HEAD -- file &&
 	git pull &&
 	test "$COPY" != "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)"
-
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase works on branch yet to be born' '
 	git rev-parse master >expect &&
 	mkdir empty_repo &&
-	(cd empty_repo &&
-	 git init &&
-	 git pull --rebase .. master &&
-	 git rev-parse HEAD >../actual
+	(
+		cd empty_repo &&
+		git init &&
+		git pull --rebase .. master &&
+		git rev-parse HEAD >../actual
 	) &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
@@ -646,58 +641,65 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase fails on corrupt HEAD' '
 
 test_expect_success 'setup for detecting upstreamed changes' '
 	mkdir src &&
-	(cd src &&
-	 git init &&
-	 printf "1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n" > stuff &&
-	 git add stuff &&
-	 git commit -m "Initial revision"
+	(
+		cd src &&
+		git init &&
+		printf "1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n" > stuff &&
+		git add stuff &&
+		git commit -m "Initial revision"
 	) &&
 	git clone src dst &&
-	(cd src &&
-	 modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "5->43" &&
-	 modify s/6/42/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Make it bigger"
+	(
+		cd src &&
+		modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "5->43" &&
+		modify s/6/42/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Make it bigger"
 	) &&
-	(cd dst &&
-	 modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Independent discovery of 5->43"
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Independent discovery of 5->43"
 	)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase detects upstreamed changes' '
-	(cd dst &&
-	 git pull --rebase &&
-	 test -z "$(git ls-files -u)"
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		git pull --rebase &&
+		test -z "$(git ls-files -u)"
 	)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'setup for avoiding reapplying old patches' '
-	(cd dst &&
-	 test_might_fail git rebase --abort &&
-	 git reset --hard origin/master
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		test_might_fail git rebase --abort &&
+		git reset --hard origin/master
 	) &&
 	git clone --bare src src-replace.git &&
 	rm -rf src &&
 	mv src-replace.git src &&
-	(cd dst &&
-	 modify s/2/22/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Change 2" &&
-	 modify s/3/33/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Change 3" &&
-	 modify s/4/44/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Change 4" &&
-	 git push &&
-
-	 modify s/44/55/ stuff &&
-	 git commit --amend -a -m "Modified Change 4"
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		modify s/2/22/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Change 2" &&
+		modify s/3/33/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Change 3" &&
+		modify s/4/44/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Change 4" &&
+		git push &&
+
+		modify s/44/55/ stuff &&
+		git commit --amend -a -m "Modified Change 4"
 	)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old patches' '
-	(cd dst &&
-	 test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
-	 test 1 = $(find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" | wc -l)
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
+		test 1 = $(find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" | wc -l)
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 51d6ce8aec..a3de2e19b6 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
-test_expect_success "pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures" '
+test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ test_expect_success "pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures" '
 	test_i18ngrep "ignoring --verify-signatures for rebase" err
 '
 
-test_expect_success "pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures" '
+test_expect_success 'pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --no-verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index a3de2e19b6..55560ce3cd 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ test_description='pulling into void'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 modify () {
-	sed -e "$1" <"$2" >"$2.x" &&
+	sed -e "$1" "$2" >"$2.x" &&
 	mv "$2.x" "$2"
 }
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 5ab5ec508a..68b8822db2 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -243,10 +243,10 @@ test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase' '
 	git branch to-rebase &&
-	echo modified again > file &&
+	echo modified again >file &&
 	git commit -m file file &&
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
-	echo new > file2 &&
+	echo new >file2 &&
 	git add file2 &&
 	git commit -m "new file" &&
 	git tag before-rebase &&
@@ -542,10 +542,10 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
 	git checkout copy &&
 	git tag copy-orig &&
 	git reset --hard HEAD^ &&
-	echo conflicting modification > file &&
+	echo conflicting modification >file &&
 	git commit -m conflict file &&
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
-	echo file > file2 &&
+	echo file >file2 &&
 	git commit -m to-rebase file2 &&
 	git tag to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase me copy &&
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.remote me &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.merge refs/heads/copy &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase true &&
-	echo dirty >> file &&
+	echo dirty >>file &&
 	git add file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull &&
 	test "$COPY" = "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)" &&

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 55560ce3cd..5ab5ec508a 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling into void' '
 		cd cloned &&
 		git pull ..
 	) &&
-	test -f file &&
-	test -f cloned/file &&
+	test_path_is_file file &&
+	test_path_is_file cloned/file &&
 	test_cmp file cloned/file
 '
 
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling into void using master:master' '
 		cd cloned-uho &&
 		git pull .. master:master
 	) &&
-	test -f file &&
-	test -f cloned-uho/file &&
+	test_path_is_file file &&
+	test_path_is_file cloned-uho/file &&
 	test_cmp file cloned-uho/file
 '
 
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling into void must not create an octopus' '
 	(
 		cd cloned-octopus &&
 		test_must_fail git pull .. master master &&
-		! test -f file
+		test_must_fail test_path_is_file file
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 55560ce3cd..004d5884cd 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling into void' '
 		cd cloned &&
 		git pull ..
 	) &&
-	test -f file &&
-	test -f cloned/file &&
+	test_path_is_file file &&
+	test_path_is_file cloned/file &&
 	test_cmp file cloned/file
 '
 
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling into void using master:master' '
 		cd cloned-uho &&
 		git pull .. master:master
 	) &&
-	test -f file &&
-	test -f cloned-uho/file &&
+	test_path_is_file file &&
+	test_path_is_file cloned-uho/file &&
 	test_cmp file cloned-uho/file
 '
 
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling into void must not create an octopus' '
 	(
 		cd cloned-octopus &&
 		test_must_fail git pull .. master master &&
-		! test -f file
+		test_path_is_missing file
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 68b8822db2..9452779f40 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -699,7 +699,8 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old patches' '
 	(
 		cd dst &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
-		test 1 = $(find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" | wc -l)
+		find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" >patches &&
+		test_line_count = 1 patches
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 9452779f40..c7797b13e6 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -206,15 +206,18 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if the index has unresolved entries' '
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
 	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
 	test_commit modified2 file &&
-	test -z "$(git ls-files -u)" &&
+	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
+	test_must_be_empty unmerged &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second &&
-	test -n "$(git ls-files -u)" &&
+	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
+	test_file_not_empty unmerged &&
 	cp file expected &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Pulling is not possible because you have unmerged files." err &&
 	test_cmp expected file &&
 	git add file &&
-	test -z "$(git ls-files -u)" &&
+	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
+	test_must_be_empty unmerged &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "You have not concluded your merge" err &&
 	test_cmp expected file
@@ -667,7 +670,8 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase detects upstreamed changes' '
 	(
 		cd dst &&
 		git pull --rebase &&
-		test -z "$(git ls-files -u)"
+		git ls-files -u >untracked &&
+		test_must_be_empty untracked
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index c7797b13e6..f11fadc075 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ test_expect_success 'fast-forwards working tree if branch head is updated' '
 	git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "fetch updated the current branch head" err &&
 	test "$(cat file)" = modified &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse third)" = "$(git rev-parse second)"
+	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
 	test_must_fail git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot fast-forward your working tree" err &&
 	test "$(cat file)" = conflict &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse third)" = "$(git rev-parse second)"
+	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase' '
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase' '
 	git commit -m "new file" &&
 	git tag before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase fast forward' '
 
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase . ff &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$(git rev-parse ff)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD ff &&
 
 	# The above only validates the result.  Did we actually bypass rebase?
 	git reflog -1 >reflog.actual &&
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase --autostash fast forward' '
 	git checkout behind &&
 	echo dirty >file &&
 	git pull --rebase --autostash . to-rebase-ff &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$(git rev-parse to-rebase-ff)"
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD to-rebase-ff
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with conflicts shows advice' '
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ test_expect_success 'failed --rebase shows advice' '
 test_expect_success '--rebase fails with multiple branches' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase . copy master 2>err &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$(git rev-parse before-rebase)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD before-rebase &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot rebase onto multiple branches" err &&
 	test modified = "$(git show HEAD:file)"
 '
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
@@ -407,14 +407,14 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase false &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" != "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_must_fail test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
 	test_i18ngrep "ignoring --verify-signatures for rebase" err
 '
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --no-verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
 	test_i18ngrep ! "verify-signatures" err
 '
@@ -443,8 +443,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase false &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^1)" = "$(git rev-parse before-preserve-rebase)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=true flattens keep-merge' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=1 is treated as true and flattens keep-merge' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase 1 &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -469,8 +469,8 @@ test_expect_success REBASE_P \
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse keep-merge)"
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 keep-merge
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=interactive' '
@@ -505,8 +505,8 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull --rebase=false . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^1)" = "$(git rev-parse before-preserve-rebase)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=true rebases and flattens keep-merge' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase=true . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -523,8 +523,8 @@ test_expect_success REBASE_P \
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull --rebase=preserve . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse keep-merge)"
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 keep-merge
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase=invalid fails' '
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-m
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -597,10 +597,10 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
 	echo dirty >>file &&
 	git add file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull &&
-	test "$COPY" = "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev "$COPY" me/copy &&
 	git checkout HEAD -- file &&
 	git pull &&
-	test "$COPY" != "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)"
+	test_must_fail test_cmp_rev "$COPY" me/copy
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase works on branch yet to be born' '

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index f11fadc075..0eebab7d86 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -255,7 +255,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase' '
 	git tag before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase fast forward' '
@@ -330,7 +332,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase fails with multiple branches' '
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase . copy master 2>err &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD before-rebase &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot rebase onto multiple branches" err &&
-	test modified = "$(git show HEAD:file)"
+	echo modified >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase succeeds with dirty working directory and rebase.autostash set' '
@@ -381,7 +385,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase' '
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --autostash & pull.rebase=true' '
@@ -399,7 +405,9 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase' '
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
@@ -408,14 +416,18 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase false &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_must_fail test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
 	test_i18ngrep "ignoring --verify-signatures for rebase" err
 '
 
@@ -423,7 +435,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --no-verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
 	test_i18ngrep ! "verify-signatures" err
 '
 
@@ -445,7 +459,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=true flattens keep-merge' '
@@ -453,7 +469,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=true flattens keep-merge' '
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=1 is treated as true and flattens keep-merge' '
@@ -461,7 +479,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=1 is treated as true and flattens keep-merge' '
 	test_config pull.rebase 1 &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success REBASE_P \
@@ -507,7 +527,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git pull --rebase=false . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase=true rebases and flattens keep-merge' '
@@ -515,7 +537,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=true rebases and flattens keep-merge' '
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase=true . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success REBASE_P \
@@ -537,7 +561,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-m
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
@@ -622,10 +648,16 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase fails on unborn branch with staged changes' '
 		cd empty_repo2 &&
 		echo staged-file >staged-file &&
 		git add staged-file &&
-		test "$(git ls-files)" = staged-file &&
+		echo staged-file >expect &&
+		git ls-files >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase .. master 2>err &&
-		test "$(git ls-files)" = staged-file &&
-		test "$(git show :staged-file)" = staged-file &&
+		echo staged-file >expect &&
+		git ls-files >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
+		echo staged-file >expect &&
+		git show :staged-file >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
 		test_i18ngrep "unborn branch with changes added to the index" err
 	)
 '

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 0eebab7d86..e611d414c8 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -668,7 +668,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase fails on corrupt HEAD' '
 	(
 		cd corrupt &&
 		test_commit one &&
-		obj=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD | sed "s#^..#&/#") &&
+		git rev-parse --verify HEAD >head &&
+		obj=$(sed "s#^..#&/#" head) &&
 		rm -f .git/objects/$obj &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase
 	)

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index e611d414c8..c6425d20ab 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@ test_pull_autostash () {
 	git add new_file &&
 	git pull "$@" . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test "$(cat new_file)" = dirty &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = "modified again"
+	echo dirty >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect new_file &&
+	echo "modified again" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 }
 
 test_pull_autostash_fail () {
@@ -110,9 +112,11 @@ test_expect_success 'test . as a remote' '
 	echo updated >file &&
 	git commit -a -m updated &&
 	git checkout copy &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git pull &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = updated &&
+	echo updated >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git reflog -1 >reflog.actual &&
 	sed "s/^[0-9a-f][0-9a-f]*/OBJID/" reflog.actual >reflog.fuzzy &&
 	echo "OBJID HEAD@{0}: pull: Fast-forward" >reflog.expected &&
@@ -125,9 +129,11 @@ test_expect_success 'the default remote . should not break explicit pull' '
 	git commit -a -m modified &&
 	git checkout copy &&
 	git reset --hard HEAD^ &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git pull . second &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = modified &&
+	echo modified >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git reflog -1 >reflog.actual &&
 	sed "s/^[0-9a-f][0-9a-f]*/OBJID/" reflog.actual >reflog.fuzzy &&
 	echo "OBJID HEAD@{0}: pull . second: Fast-forward" >reflog.expected &&
@@ -137,10 +143,12 @@ test_expect_success 'the default remote . should not break explicit pull' '
 test_expect_success 'fail if wildcard spec does not match any refs' '
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . "refs/nonexisting1/*:refs/nonexisting2/*" 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no candidates for merging" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if no branches specified with non-default remote' '
@@ -148,11 +156,13 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if no branches specified with non-default remote' '
 	test_when_finished "git remote remove test_remote" &&
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote origin &&
 	test_must_fail git pull test_remote 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "specify a branch on the command line" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if not on a branch' '
@@ -160,10 +170,12 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if not on a branch' '
 	test_when_finished "git remote remove origin" &&
 	git checkout HEAD^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "not currently on a branch" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if no configuration for current branch' '
@@ -172,10 +184,12 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if no configuration for current branch' '
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote test_remote &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no tracking information" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --all: fail if no configuration for current branch' '
@@ -184,10 +198,12 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --all: fail if no configuration for current branch' '
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote test_remote &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --all 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "There is no tracking information" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if upstream branch does not exist' '
@@ -195,16 +211,19 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if upstream branch does not exist' '
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote . &&
 	test_config branch.test.merge refs/heads/nonexisting &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no such ref was fetched" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if the index has unresolved entries' '
 	git checkout -b third second^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_commit modified2 file &&
 	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
 	test_must_be_empty unmerged &&
@@ -226,21 +245,25 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if the index has unresolved entries' '
 test_expect_success 'fast-forwards working tree if branch head is updated' '
 	git checkout -b third second^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "fetch updated the current branch head" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = modified &&
+	echo modified >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
 	git checkout -b third second^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	echo conflict >file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot fast-forward your working tree" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = conflict &&
+	echo conflict >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
@@ -501,7 +524,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=interactive' '
 	test_set_editor "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/fake-editor" &&
 	test_when_finished "test_might_fail git rebase --abort" &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase=interactive . copy &&
-	test "I was here" = "$(cat fake.out)"
+	echo "I was here" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect fake.out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase=i' '
@@ -512,7 +536,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase=i' '
 	test_set_editor "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/fake-editor" &&
 	test_when_finished "test_might_fail git rebase --abort" &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase=i . copy &&
-	test "I was here, too" = "$(cat fake.out)"
+	echo "I was here, too" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect fake.out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=invalid fails' '
@@ -578,16 +603,20 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
 	git commit -m to-rebase file2 &&
 	git tag to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase me copy &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase -f with rebased upstream' '
 	test_when_finished "test_might_fail git rebase --abort" &&
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase -f me copy &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased default upstream' '
@@ -595,8 +624,10 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased default upstream' '
 	git checkout --track -b to-rebase2 me/copy &&
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
@@ -607,8 +638,10 @@ test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git fetch &&
 	git pull --rebase &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 
 '
 
@@ -744,8 +777,10 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old patches' '
 test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase against local branch' '
 	git checkout -b copy2 to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase . to-rebase &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_done

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index c6425d20ab..0c187b025b 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase=i' '
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=invalid fails' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase invalid &&
-	! git pull . copy
+	test_must_fail git pull . copy
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
@@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ test_expect_success REBASE_P \
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase=invalid fails' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
-	! git pull --rebase=invalid . copy
+	test_must_fail git pull --rebase=invalid . copy
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-merge' '

diff --git a/t/t7408-submodule-reference.sh b/t/t7408-submodule-reference.sh
index 34ac28c056..9e62d43cac 100755
--- a/t/t7408-submodule-reference.sh
+++ b/t/t7408-submodule-reference.sh
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ test_expect_success 'missing submodule alternate fails clone and submodule updat
 		test_must_fail git submodule update --init &&
 		# and we have no alternates:
 		test_must_fail test_alternate_is_used .git/modules/sub/objects/info/alternates sub &&
-		test_must_fail test_path_is_file sub/file1
+		test_path_is_missing sub/file1
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 0ca4867e96..18225d8430 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -206,15 +206,18 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if the index has unresolved entries' '
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
 	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
 	test_commit modified2 file &&
-	test -z "$(git ls-files -u)" &&
+	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
+	test_must_be_empty unmerged &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second &&
-	test -n "$(git ls-files -u)" &&
+	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
+	test_file_not_empty unmerged &&
 	cp file expected &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Pulling is not possible because you have unmerged files." err &&
 	test_cmp expected file &&
 	git add file &&
-	test -z "$(git ls-files -u)" &&
+	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
+	test_must_be_empty unmerged &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "You have not concluded your merge" err &&
 	test_cmp expected file
@@ -667,7 +670,8 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase detects upstreamed changes' '
 	(
 		cd dst &&
 		git pull --rebase &&
-		test -z "$(git ls-files -u)"
+		git ls-files -u >untracked &&
+		test_must_be_empty untracked
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 1af6ea06ee..8b7e7ae55d 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -255,7 +255,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase' '
 	git tag before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase fast forward' '
@@ -330,7 +332,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase fails with multiple branches' '
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase . copy master 2>err &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD before-rebase &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot rebase onto multiple branches" err &&
-	test modified = "$(git show HEAD:file)"
+	echo modified >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase succeeds with dirty working directory and rebase.autostash set' '
@@ -381,7 +385,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase' '
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --autostash & pull.rebase=true' '
@@ -399,7 +405,9 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase' '
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
@@ -408,14 +416,18 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase false &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev ! HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
 	test_i18ngrep "ignoring --verify-signatures for rebase" err
 '
 
@@ -423,7 +435,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --no-verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
 	test_i18ngrep ! "verify-signatures" err
 '
 
@@ -445,7 +459,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=true flattens keep-merge' '
@@ -453,7 +469,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=true flattens keep-merge' '
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=1 is treated as true and flattens keep-merge' '
@@ -461,7 +479,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=1 is treated as true and flattens keep-merge' '
 	test_config pull.rebase 1 &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success REBASE_P \
@@ -507,7 +527,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git pull --rebase=false . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase=true rebases and flattens keep-merge' '
@@ -515,7 +537,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=true rebases and flattens keep-merge' '
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase=true . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success REBASE_P \
@@ -537,7 +561,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-m
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
@@ -622,10 +648,16 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase fails on unborn branch with staged changes' '
 		cd empty_repo2 &&
 		echo staged-file >staged-file &&
 		git add staged-file &&
-		test "$(git ls-files)" = staged-file &&
+		echo staged-file >expect &&
+		git ls-files >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase .. master 2>err &&
-		test "$(git ls-files)" = staged-file &&
-		test "$(git show :staged-file)" = staged-file &&
+		echo staged-file >expect &&
+		git ls-files >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
+		echo staged-file >expect &&
+		git show :staged-file >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
 		test_i18ngrep "unborn branch with changes added to the index" err
 	)
 '

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 55560ce3cd..004d5884cd 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling into void' '
 		cd cloned &&
 		git pull ..
 	) &&
-	test -f file &&
-	test -f cloned/file &&
+	test_path_is_file file &&
+	test_path_is_file cloned/file &&
 	test_cmp file cloned/file
 '
 
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling into void using master:master' '
 		cd cloned-uho &&
 		git pull .. master:master
 	) &&
-	test -f file &&
-	test -f cloned-uho/file &&
+	test_path_is_file file &&
+	test_path_is_file cloned-uho/file &&
 	test_cmp file cloned-uho/file
 '
 
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling into void must not create an octopus' '
 	(
 		cd cloned-octopus &&
 		test_must_fail git pull .. master master &&
-		! test -f file
+		test_path_is_missing file
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 8b7e7ae55d..8ddf89e550 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -668,7 +668,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase fails on corrupt HEAD' '
 	(
 		cd corrupt &&
 		test_commit one &&
-		obj=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD | sed "s#^..#&/#") &&
+		git rev-parse --verify HEAD >head &&
+		obj=$(sed "s#^..#&/#" head) &&
 		rm -f .git/objects/$obj &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase
 	)

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index c9e4eec004..ef3dbc201a 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -147,7 +147,6 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if wildcard spec does not match any refs' '
 	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . "refs/nonexisting1/*:refs/nonexisting2/*" 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no candidates for merging" err &&
-	echo file >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
@@ -161,7 +160,6 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if no branches specified with non-default remote' '
 	test_config branch.test.remote origin &&
 	test_must_fail git pull test_remote 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "specify a branch on the command line" err &&
-	echo file >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
@@ -174,7 +172,6 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if not on a branch' '
 	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "not currently on a branch" err &&
-	echo file >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
@@ -188,7 +185,6 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if no configuration for current branch' '
 	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no tracking information" err &&
-	echo file >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
@@ -202,7 +198,6 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --all: fail if no configuration for current branch' '
 	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --all 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "There is no tracking information" err &&
-	echo file >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
@@ -215,7 +210,6 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if upstream branch does not exist' '
 	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no such ref was fetched" err &&
-	echo file >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
@@ -685,10 +679,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase fails on unborn branch with staged changes' '
 		git ls-files >actual &&
 		test_cmp expect actual &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase .. master 2>err &&
-		echo staged-file >expect &&
 		git ls-files >actual &&
 		test_cmp expect actual &&
-		echo staged-file >expect &&
 		git show :staged-file >actual &&
 		test_cmp expect actual &&
 		test_i18ngrep "unborn branch with changes added to the index" err

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index ef3dbc201a..602d996a33 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -537,7 +537,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase=i' '
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=invalid fails' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase invalid &&
-	! git pull . copy
+	test_must_fail git pull . copy
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ test_expect_success REBASE_P \
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase=invalid fails' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
-	! git pull --rebase=invalid . copy
+	test_must_fail git pull --rebase=invalid . copy
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-merge' '

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 8ddf89e550..c9e4eec004 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@ test_pull_autostash () {
 	git add new_file &&
 	git pull "$@" . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test "$(cat new_file)" = dirty &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = "modified again"
+	echo dirty >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect new_file &&
+	echo "modified again" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 }
 
 test_pull_autostash_fail () {
@@ -110,9 +112,11 @@ test_expect_success 'test . as a remote' '
 	echo updated >file &&
 	git commit -a -m updated &&
 	git checkout copy &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git pull &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = updated &&
+	echo updated >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git reflog -1 >reflog.actual &&
 	sed "s/^[0-9a-f][0-9a-f]*/OBJID/" reflog.actual >reflog.fuzzy &&
 	echo "OBJID HEAD@{0}: pull: Fast-forward" >reflog.expected &&
@@ -125,9 +129,11 @@ test_expect_success 'the default remote . should not break explicit pull' '
 	git commit -a -m modified &&
 	git checkout copy &&
 	git reset --hard HEAD^ &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git pull . second &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = modified &&
+	echo modified >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git reflog -1 >reflog.actual &&
 	sed "s/^[0-9a-f][0-9a-f]*/OBJID/" reflog.actual >reflog.fuzzy &&
 	echo "OBJID HEAD@{0}: pull . second: Fast-forward" >reflog.expected &&
@@ -137,10 +143,12 @@ test_expect_success 'the default remote . should not break explicit pull' '
 test_expect_success 'fail if wildcard spec does not match any refs' '
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . "refs/nonexisting1/*:refs/nonexisting2/*" 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no candidates for merging" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if no branches specified with non-default remote' '
@@ -148,11 +156,13 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if no branches specified with non-default remote' '
 	test_when_finished "git remote remove test_remote" &&
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote origin &&
 	test_must_fail git pull test_remote 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "specify a branch on the command line" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if not on a branch' '
@@ -160,10 +170,12 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if not on a branch' '
 	test_when_finished "git remote remove origin" &&
 	git checkout HEAD^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "not currently on a branch" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if no configuration for current branch' '
@@ -172,10 +184,12 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if no configuration for current branch' '
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote test_remote &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no tracking information" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --all: fail if no configuration for current branch' '
@@ -184,10 +198,12 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --all: fail if no configuration for current branch' '
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote test_remote &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --all 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "There is no tracking information" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if upstream branch does not exist' '
@@ -195,16 +211,19 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if upstream branch does not exist' '
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote . &&
 	test_config branch.test.merge refs/heads/nonexisting &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no such ref was fetched" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if the index has unresolved entries' '
 	git checkout -b third second^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_commit modified2 file &&
 	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
 	test_must_be_empty unmerged &&
@@ -226,21 +245,25 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if the index has unresolved entries' '
 test_expect_success 'fast-forwards working tree if branch head is updated' '
 	git checkout -b third second^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "fetch updated the current branch head" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = modified &&
+	echo modified >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
 	git checkout -b third second^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	echo conflict >file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot fast-forward your working tree" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = conflict &&
+	echo conflict >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
@@ -501,7 +524,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=interactive' '
 	test_set_editor "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/fake-editor" &&
 	test_when_finished "test_might_fail git rebase --abort" &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase=interactive . copy &&
-	test "I was here" = "$(cat fake.out)"
+	echo "I was here" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect fake.out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase=i' '
@@ -512,7 +536,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase=i' '
 	test_set_editor "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/fake-editor" &&
 	test_when_finished "test_might_fail git rebase --abort" &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase=i . copy &&
-	test "I was here, too" = "$(cat fake.out)"
+	echo "I was here, too" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect fake.out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=invalid fails' '
@@ -578,16 +603,20 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
 	git commit -m to-rebase file2 &&
 	git tag to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase me copy &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase -f with rebased upstream' '
 	test_when_finished "test_might_fail git rebase --abort" &&
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase -f me copy &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased default upstream' '
@@ -595,8 +624,10 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased default upstream' '
 	git checkout --track -b to-rebase2 me/copy &&
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
@@ -607,8 +638,10 @@ test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git fetch &&
 	git pull --rebase &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 
 '
 
@@ -744,8 +777,10 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old patches' '
 test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase against local branch' '
 	git checkout -b copy2 to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase . to-rebase &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_done

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 18225d8430..1af6ea06ee 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ test_expect_success 'fast-forwards working tree if branch head is updated' '
 	git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "fetch updated the current branch head" err &&
 	test "$(cat file)" = modified &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse third)" = "$(git rev-parse second)"
+	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
 	test_must_fail git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot fast-forward your working tree" err &&
 	test "$(cat file)" = conflict &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse third)" = "$(git rev-parse second)"
+	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase' '
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase' '
 	git commit -m "new file" &&
 	git tag before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase fast forward' '
 
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase . ff &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$(git rev-parse ff)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD ff &&
 
 	# The above only validates the result.  Did we actually bypass rebase?
 	git reflog -1 >reflog.actual &&
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase --autostash fast forward' '
 	git checkout behind &&
 	echo dirty >file &&
 	git pull --rebase --autostash . to-rebase-ff &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$(git rev-parse to-rebase-ff)"
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD to-rebase-ff
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with conflicts shows advice' '
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ test_expect_success 'failed --rebase shows advice' '
 test_expect_success '--rebase fails with multiple branches' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase . copy master 2>err &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$(git rev-parse before-rebase)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD before-rebase &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot rebase onto multiple branches" err &&
 	test modified = "$(git show HEAD:file)"
 '
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
@@ -407,14 +407,14 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase false &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" != "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev ! HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
 	test_i18ngrep "ignoring --verify-signatures for rebase" err
 '
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --no-verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
 	test_i18ngrep ! "verify-signatures" err
 '
@@ -443,8 +443,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase false &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^1)" = "$(git rev-parse before-preserve-rebase)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=true flattens keep-merge' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=1 is treated as true and flattens keep-merge' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase 1 &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -469,8 +469,8 @@ test_expect_success REBASE_P \
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse keep-merge)"
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 keep-merge
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=interactive' '
@@ -505,8 +505,8 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull --rebase=false . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^1)" = "$(git rev-parse before-preserve-rebase)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=true rebases and flattens keep-merge' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase=true . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -523,8 +523,8 @@ test_expect_success REBASE_P \
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull --rebase=preserve . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse keep-merge)"
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 keep-merge
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase=invalid fails' '
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-m
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -597,10 +597,10 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
 	echo dirty >>file &&
 	git add file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull &&
-	test "$COPY" = "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev "$COPY" me/copy &&
 	git checkout HEAD -- file &&
 	git pull &&
-	test "$COPY" != "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)"
+	test_cmp_rev ! "$COPY" me/copy
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase works on branch yet to be born' '

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 7bb9031140..0ca4867e96 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -699,7 +699,8 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old patches' '
 	(
 		cd dst &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
-		test 1 = $(find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" | wc -l)
+		find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" >patches &&
+		test_line_count = 1 patches
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 004d5884cd..7bb9031140 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -243,10 +243,10 @@ test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase' '
 	git branch to-rebase &&
-	echo modified again > file &&
+	echo modified again >file &&
 	git commit -m file file &&
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
-	echo new > file2 &&
+	echo new >file2 &&
 	git add file2 &&
 	git commit -m "new file" &&
 	git tag before-rebase &&
@@ -542,10 +542,10 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
 	git checkout copy &&
 	git tag copy-orig &&
 	git reset --hard HEAD^ &&
-	echo conflicting modification > file &&
+	echo conflicting modification >file &&
 	git commit -m conflict file &&
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
-	echo file > file2 &&
+	echo file >file2 &&
 	git commit -m to-rebase file2 &&
 	git tag to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase me copy &&
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.remote me &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.merge refs/heads/copy &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase true &&
-	echo dirty >> file &&
+	echo dirty >>file &&
 	git add file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull &&
 	test "$COPY" = "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)" &&

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index a3de2e19b6..55560ce3cd 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ test_description='pulling into void'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 modify () {
-	sed -e "$1" <"$2" >"$2.x" &&
+	sed -e "$1" "$2" >"$2.x" &&
 	mv "$2.x" "$2"
 }
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 51d6ce8aec..a3de2e19b6 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
-test_expect_success "pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures" '
+test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ test_expect_success "pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures" '
 	test_i18ngrep "ignoring --verify-signatures for rebase" err
 '
 
-test_expect_success "pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures" '
+test_expect_success 'pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --no-verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index cf4cc32fd0..51d6ce8aec 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -538,7 +538,6 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-m
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
-
 	git remote add -f me . &&
 	git checkout copy &&
 	git tag copy-orig &&
@@ -552,7 +551,6 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
 	git pull --rebase me copy &&
 	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
 	test file = "$(cat file2)"
-
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase -f with rebased upstream' '
@@ -564,14 +562,12 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase -f with rebased upstream' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased default upstream' '
-
 	git update-ref refs/remotes/me/copy copy-orig &&
 	git checkout --track -b to-rebase2 me/copy &&
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase &&
 	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
 	test file = "$(cat file2)"
-
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
@@ -588,7 +584,6 @@ test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
-
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
 	git update-ref refs/remotes/me/copy copy^ &&
 	COPY="$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)" &&
@@ -603,16 +598,16 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
 	git checkout HEAD -- file &&
 	git pull &&
 	test "$COPY" != "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)"
-
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase works on branch yet to be born' '
 	git rev-parse master >expect &&
 	mkdir empty_repo &&
-	(cd empty_repo &&
-	 git init &&
-	 git pull --rebase .. master &&
-	 git rev-parse HEAD >../actual
+	(
+		cd empty_repo &&
+		git init &&
+		git pull --rebase .. master &&
+		git rev-parse HEAD >../actual
 	) &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
@@ -646,58 +641,65 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase fails on corrupt HEAD' '
 
 test_expect_success 'setup for detecting upstreamed changes' '
 	mkdir src &&
-	(cd src &&
-	 git init &&
-	 printf "1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n" > stuff &&
-	 git add stuff &&
-	 git commit -m "Initial revision"
+	(
+		cd src &&
+		git init &&
+		printf "1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n" > stuff &&
+		git add stuff &&
+		git commit -m "Initial revision"
 	) &&
 	git clone src dst &&
-	(cd src &&
-	 modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "5->43" &&
-	 modify s/6/42/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Make it bigger"
+	(
+		cd src &&
+		modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "5->43" &&
+		modify s/6/42/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Make it bigger"
 	) &&
-	(cd dst &&
-	 modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Independent discovery of 5->43"
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Independent discovery of 5->43"
 	)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase detects upstreamed changes' '
-	(cd dst &&
-	 git pull --rebase &&
-	 test -z "$(git ls-files -u)"
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		git pull --rebase &&
+		test -z "$(git ls-files -u)"
 	)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'setup for avoiding reapplying old patches' '
-	(cd dst &&
-	 test_might_fail git rebase --abort &&
-	 git reset --hard origin/master
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		test_might_fail git rebase --abort &&
+		git reset --hard origin/master
 	) &&
 	git clone --bare src src-replace.git &&
 	rm -rf src &&
 	mv src-replace.git src &&
-	(cd dst &&
-	 modify s/2/22/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Change 2" &&
-	 modify s/3/33/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Change 3" &&
-	 modify s/4/44/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Change 4" &&
-	 git push &&
-
-	 modify s/44/55/ stuff &&
-	 git commit --amend -a -m "Modified Change 4"
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		modify s/2/22/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Change 2" &&
+		modify s/3/33/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Change 3" &&
+		modify s/4/44/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Change 4" &&
+		git push &&
+
+		modify s/44/55/ stuff &&
+		git commit --amend -a -m "Modified Change 4"
 	)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old patches' '
-	(cd dst &&
-	 test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
-	 test 1 = $(find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" | wc -l)
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
+		test 1 = $(find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" | wc -l)
 	)
 '
 

t/t2400-worktree-add.sh, t/t3400-rebase.sh, t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh, t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh, t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh, t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh, t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh, t/test-lib-functions.sh

diff --git a/t/t2400-worktree-add.sh b/t/t2400-worktree-add.sh
index e819ba741e..52d476979b 100755
--- a/t/t2400-worktree-add.sh
+++ b/t/t2400-worktree-add.sh
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git worktree add does not match remote' '
 		cd foo &&
 		test_must_fail git config "branch.foo.remote" &&
 		test_must_fail git config "branch.foo.merge" &&
-		! test_cmp_rev refs/remotes/repo_a/foo refs/heads/foo
+		test_cmp_rev ! refs/remotes/repo_a/foo refs/heads/foo
 	)
 '
 
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git worktree --no-guess-remote option overrides config' '
 		cd foo &&
 		test_must_fail git config "branch.foo.remote" &&
 		test_must_fail git config "branch.foo.merge" &&
-		! test_cmp_rev refs/remotes/repo_a/foo refs/heads/foo
+		test_cmp_rev ! refs/remotes/repo_a/foo refs/heads/foo
 	)
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t3400-rebase.sh b/t/t3400-rebase.sh
index ab18ac5f28..f267f6cd54 100755
--- a/t/t3400-rebase.sh
+++ b/t/t3400-rebase.sh
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ test_expect_success 'rebase sets ORIG_HEAD to pre-rebase state' '
 	pre="$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD)" &&
 	git rebase master &&
 	test_cmp_rev "$pre" ORIG_HEAD &&
-	! test_cmp_rev "$pre" HEAD
+	test_cmp_rev ! "$pre" HEAD
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rebase, with <onto> and <upstream> specified as :/quuxery' '
diff --git a/t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh b/t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh
index b847064f91..325072b0a3 100755
--- a/t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh
+++ b/t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ test_run_rebase () {
 	test_expect_$result "rebase $* -f rewrites even if upstream is an ancestor" "
 		reset_rebase &&
 		git rebase $* -f b e &&
-		! test_cmp_rev e HEAD &&
+		test_cmp_rev ! e HEAD &&
 		test_cmp_rev b HEAD~2 &&
 		test_linear_range 'd e' b..
 	"
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ test_run_rebase () {
 	test_expect_$result "rebase $* -f rewrites even if remote upstream is an ancestor" "
 		reset_rebase &&
 		git rebase $* -f branch-b branch-e &&
-		! test_cmp_rev branch-e origin/branch-e &&
+		test_cmp_rev ! branch-e origin/branch-e &&
 		test_cmp_rev branch-b HEAD~2 &&
 		test_linear_range 'd e' branch-b..
 	"
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ test_run_rebase () {
 	test_expect_$result "rebase $* -f --root on linear history causes re-write" "
 		reset_rebase &&
 		git rebase $* -f --root c &&
-		! test_cmp_rev a HEAD~2 &&
+		test_cmp_rev ! a HEAD~2 &&
 		test_linear_range 'a b c' HEAD
 	"
 }
diff --git a/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh b/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
index 9efcf4808a..abbdc26b1b 100755
--- a/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
+++ b/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ test_expect_success 'A root commit can be a cousin, treat it that way' '
 	git merge --allow-unrelated-histories khnum &&
 	test_tick &&
 	git rebase -f -r HEAD^ &&
-	! test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 khnum &&
+	test_cmp_rev ! HEAD^2 khnum &&
 	test_cmp_graph HEAD^.. <<-\EOF &&
 	*   Merge branch '\''khnum'\'' into asherah
 	|\
diff --git a/t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh b/t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh
index 034ffc7e76..92f95b57da 100755
--- a/t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh
+++ b/t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ test_rebase_same_head_ () {
 			test_cmp_rev \$oldhead \$newhead
 		elif test $cmp = diff
 		then
-			! test_cmp_rev \$oldhead \$newhead
+			test_cmp_rev ! \$oldhead \$newhead
 		fi
 	"
 }
diff --git a/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh b/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh
index d1c68af8c5..1c51a9131d 100755
--- a/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh
+++ b/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cherry-pick on unborn branch' '
 	rm -rf * &&
 	git cherry-pick initial &&
 	git diff --quiet initial &&
-	! test_cmp_rev initial HEAD
+	test_cmp_rev ! initial HEAD
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'cherry-pick "-" to pick from previous branch' '
diff --git a/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh b/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh
index b457333e18..23070a7b73 100755
--- a/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh
+++ b/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ test_description='test cherry-picking many commits'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 check_head_differs_from() {
-	! test_cmp_rev HEAD "$1"
+	test_cmp_rev ! HEAD "$1"
 }
 
 check_head_equals() {
diff --git a/t/test-lib-functions.sh b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
index b299ecc326..76dce5f8ee 100644
--- a/t/test-lib-functions.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
@@ -1012,8 +1012,17 @@ test_must_be_empty () {
 	fi
 }
 
-# Tests that its two parameters refer to the same revision
+# Tests that its two parameters refer to the same revision, or if '!' is
+# provided first, that its other two parameters refer to different
+# revisions.
 test_cmp_rev () {
+	local inverted_op
+	inverted_op='!='
+	if test $# -ge 1 && test "x$1" = 'x!'
+	then
+	    inverted_op='='
+	    shift
+	fi
 	if test $# != 2
 	then
 		error "bug in the test script: test_cmp_rev requires two revisions, but got $#"
@@ -1021,7 +1030,7 @@ test_cmp_rev () {
 		local r1 r2
 		r1=$(git rev-parse --verify "$1") &&
 		r2=$(git rev-parse --verify "$2") &&
-		if test "$r1" != "$r2"
+		if test "$r1" "$inverted_op" "$r2"
 		then
 			cat >&4 <<-EOF
 			error: two revisions point to different objects:

t/t2400-worktree-add.sh, t/t3400-rebase.sh, t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh, t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh, t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh, t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh, t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh, t/test-lib-functions.sh

diff --git a/t/t2400-worktree-add.sh b/t/t2400-worktree-add.sh
index e819ba741e..52d476979b 100755
--- a/t/t2400-worktree-add.sh
+++ b/t/t2400-worktree-add.sh
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git worktree add does not match remote' '
 		cd foo &&
 		test_must_fail git config "branch.foo.remote" &&
 		test_must_fail git config "branch.foo.merge" &&
-		! test_cmp_rev refs/remotes/repo_a/foo refs/heads/foo
+		test_cmp_rev ! refs/remotes/repo_a/foo refs/heads/foo
 	)
 '
 
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git worktree --no-guess-remote option overrides config' '
 		cd foo &&
 		test_must_fail git config "branch.foo.remote" &&
 		test_must_fail git config "branch.foo.merge" &&
-		! test_cmp_rev refs/remotes/repo_a/foo refs/heads/foo
+		test_cmp_rev ! refs/remotes/repo_a/foo refs/heads/foo
 	)
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t3400-rebase.sh b/t/t3400-rebase.sh
index ab18ac5f28..f267f6cd54 100755
--- a/t/t3400-rebase.sh
+++ b/t/t3400-rebase.sh
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ test_expect_success 'rebase sets ORIG_HEAD to pre-rebase state' '
 	pre="$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD)" &&
 	git rebase master &&
 	test_cmp_rev "$pre" ORIG_HEAD &&
-	! test_cmp_rev "$pre" HEAD
+	test_cmp_rev ! "$pre" HEAD
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rebase, with <onto> and <upstream> specified as :/quuxery' '
diff --git a/t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh b/t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh
index b847064f91..325072b0a3 100755
--- a/t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh
+++ b/t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ test_run_rebase () {
 	test_expect_$result "rebase $* -f rewrites even if upstream is an ancestor" "
 		reset_rebase &&
 		git rebase $* -f b e &&
-		! test_cmp_rev e HEAD &&
+		test_cmp_rev ! e HEAD &&
 		test_cmp_rev b HEAD~2 &&
 		test_linear_range 'd e' b..
 	"
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ test_run_rebase () {
 	test_expect_$result "rebase $* -f rewrites even if remote upstream is an ancestor" "
 		reset_rebase &&
 		git rebase $* -f branch-b branch-e &&
-		! test_cmp_rev branch-e origin/branch-e &&
+		test_cmp_rev ! branch-e origin/branch-e &&
 		test_cmp_rev branch-b HEAD~2 &&
 		test_linear_range 'd e' branch-b..
 	"
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ test_run_rebase () {
 	test_expect_$result "rebase $* -f --root on linear history causes re-write" "
 		reset_rebase &&
 		git rebase $* -f --root c &&
-		! test_cmp_rev a HEAD~2 &&
+		test_cmp_rev ! a HEAD~2 &&
 		test_linear_range 'a b c' HEAD
 	"
 }
diff --git a/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh b/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
index 9efcf4808a..abbdc26b1b 100755
--- a/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
+++ b/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ test_expect_success 'A root commit can be a cousin, treat it that way' '
 	git merge --allow-unrelated-histories khnum &&
 	test_tick &&
 	git rebase -f -r HEAD^ &&
-	! test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 khnum &&
+	test_cmp_rev ! HEAD^2 khnum &&
 	test_cmp_graph HEAD^.. <<-\EOF &&
 	*   Merge branch '\''khnum'\'' into asherah
 	|\
diff --git a/t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh b/t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh
index 034ffc7e76..92f95b57da 100755
--- a/t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh
+++ b/t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ test_rebase_same_head_ () {
 			test_cmp_rev \$oldhead \$newhead
 		elif test $cmp = diff
 		then
-			! test_cmp_rev \$oldhead \$newhead
+			test_cmp_rev ! \$oldhead \$newhead
 		fi
 	"
 }
diff --git a/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh b/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh
index d1c68af8c5..1c51a9131d 100755
--- a/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh
+++ b/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cherry-pick on unborn branch' '
 	rm -rf * &&
 	git cherry-pick initial &&
 	git diff --quiet initial &&
-	! test_cmp_rev initial HEAD
+	test_cmp_rev ! initial HEAD
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'cherry-pick "-" to pick from previous branch' '
diff --git a/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh b/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh
index b457333e18..23070a7b73 100755
--- a/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh
+++ b/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ test_description='test cherry-picking many commits'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 check_head_differs_from() {
-	! test_cmp_rev HEAD "$1"
+	test_cmp_rev ! HEAD "$1"
 }
 
 check_head_equals() {
diff --git a/t/test-lib-functions.sh b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
index b299ecc326..064131ac39 100644
--- a/t/test-lib-functions.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
@@ -1012,8 +1012,17 @@ test_must_be_empty () {
 	fi
 }
 
-# Tests that its two parameters refer to the same revision
+# Tests that its two parameters refer to the same revision, or if '!' is
+# provided first, that its other two parameters refer to different
+# revisions.
 test_cmp_rev () {
+	local inverted_op
+	inverted_op='!='
+	if test $# -ge 1 && test "x$1" = 'x!'
+	then
+	    inverted_op='='
+	    shift
+	fi
 	if test $# != 2
 	then
 		error "bug in the test script: test_cmp_rev requires two revisions, but got $#"
@@ -1021,10 +1030,17 @@ test_cmp_rev () {
 		local r1 r2
 		r1=$(git rev-parse --verify "$1") &&
 		r2=$(git rev-parse --verify "$2") &&
-		if test "$r1" != "$r2"
+		if test "$r1" "$inverted_op" "$r2"
 		then
+			local comp_out
+			if "x$inverted_op" = 'x='
+			then
+				comp_out='the same'
+			else
+				comp_out='different'
+			fi
 			cat >&4 <<-EOF
-			error: two revisions point to different objects:
+			error: two revisions point to $comp_out objects:
 			  '$1': $r1
 			  '$2': $r2
 			EOF

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index cf4cc32fd0..51d6ce8aec 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -538,7 +538,6 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-m
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
-
 	git remote add -f me . &&
 	git checkout copy &&
 	git tag copy-orig &&
@@ -552,7 +551,6 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
 	git pull --rebase me copy &&
 	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
 	test file = "$(cat file2)"
-
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase -f with rebased upstream' '
@@ -564,14 +562,12 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase -f with rebased upstream' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased default upstream' '
-
 	git update-ref refs/remotes/me/copy copy-orig &&
 	git checkout --track -b to-rebase2 me/copy &&
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase &&
 	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
 	test file = "$(cat file2)"
-
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
@@ -588,7 +584,6 @@ test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
-
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
 	git update-ref refs/remotes/me/copy copy^ &&
 	COPY="$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)" &&
@@ -603,16 +598,16 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
 	git checkout HEAD -- file &&
 	git pull &&
 	test "$COPY" != "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)"
-
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase works on branch yet to be born' '
 	git rev-parse master >expect &&
 	mkdir empty_repo &&
-	(cd empty_repo &&
-	 git init &&
-	 git pull --rebase .. master &&
-	 git rev-parse HEAD >../actual
+	(
+		cd empty_repo &&
+		git init &&
+		git pull --rebase .. master &&
+		git rev-parse HEAD >../actual
 	) &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
@@ -646,58 +641,65 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase fails on corrupt HEAD' '
 
 test_expect_success 'setup for detecting upstreamed changes' '
 	mkdir src &&
-	(cd src &&
-	 git init &&
-	 printf "1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n" > stuff &&
-	 git add stuff &&
-	 git commit -m "Initial revision"
+	(
+		cd src &&
+		git init &&
+		printf "1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n" > stuff &&
+		git add stuff &&
+		git commit -m "Initial revision"
 	) &&
 	git clone src dst &&
-	(cd src &&
-	 modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "5->43" &&
-	 modify s/6/42/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Make it bigger"
+	(
+		cd src &&
+		modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "5->43" &&
+		modify s/6/42/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Make it bigger"
 	) &&
-	(cd dst &&
-	 modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Independent discovery of 5->43"
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Independent discovery of 5->43"
 	)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase detects upstreamed changes' '
-	(cd dst &&
-	 git pull --rebase &&
-	 test -z "$(git ls-files -u)"
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		git pull --rebase &&
+		test -z "$(git ls-files -u)"
 	)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'setup for avoiding reapplying old patches' '
-	(cd dst &&
-	 test_might_fail git rebase --abort &&
-	 git reset --hard origin/master
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		test_might_fail git rebase --abort &&
+		git reset --hard origin/master
 	) &&
 	git clone --bare src src-replace.git &&
 	rm -rf src &&
 	mv src-replace.git src &&
-	(cd dst &&
-	 modify s/2/22/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Change 2" &&
-	 modify s/3/33/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Change 3" &&
-	 modify s/4/44/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Change 4" &&
-	 git push &&
-
-	 modify s/44/55/ stuff &&
-	 git commit --amend -a -m "Modified Change 4"
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		modify s/2/22/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Change 2" &&
+		modify s/3/33/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Change 3" &&
+		modify s/4/44/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Change 4" &&
+		git push &&
+
+		modify s/44/55/ stuff &&
+		git commit --amend -a -m "Modified Change 4"
 	)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old patches' '
-	(cd dst &&
-	 test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
-	 test 1 = $(find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" | wc -l)
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
+		test 1 = $(find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" | wc -l)
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 51d6ce8aec..a3de2e19b6 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
-test_expect_success "pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures" '
+test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ test_expect_success "pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures" '
 	test_i18ngrep "ignoring --verify-signatures for rebase" err
 '
 
-test_expect_success "pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures" '
+test_expect_success 'pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --no-verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index a3de2e19b6..55560ce3cd 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ test_description='pulling into void'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 modify () {
-	sed -e "$1" <"$2" >"$2.x" &&
+	sed -e "$1" "$2" >"$2.x" &&
 	mv "$2.x" "$2"
 }
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 55560ce3cd..004d5884cd 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling into void' '
 		cd cloned &&
 		git pull ..
 	) &&
-	test -f file &&
-	test -f cloned/file &&
+	test_path_is_file file &&
+	test_path_is_file cloned/file &&
 	test_cmp file cloned/file
 '
 
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling into void using master:master' '
 		cd cloned-uho &&
 		git pull .. master:master
 	) &&
-	test -f file &&
-	test -f cloned-uho/file &&
+	test_path_is_file file &&
+	test_path_is_file cloned-uho/file &&
 	test_cmp file cloned-uho/file
 '
 
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling into void must not create an octopus' '
 	(
 		cd cloned-octopus &&
 		test_must_fail git pull .. master master &&
-		! test -f file
+		test_path_is_missing file
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 004d5884cd..7bb9031140 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -243,10 +243,10 @@ test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase' '
 	git branch to-rebase &&
-	echo modified again > file &&
+	echo modified again >file &&
 	git commit -m file file &&
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
-	echo new > file2 &&
+	echo new >file2 &&
 	git add file2 &&
 	git commit -m "new file" &&
 	git tag before-rebase &&
@@ -542,10 +542,10 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
 	git checkout copy &&
 	git tag copy-orig &&
 	git reset --hard HEAD^ &&
-	echo conflicting modification > file &&
+	echo conflicting modification >file &&
 	git commit -m conflict file &&
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
-	echo file > file2 &&
+	echo file >file2 &&
 	git commit -m to-rebase file2 &&
 	git tag to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase me copy &&
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.remote me &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.merge refs/heads/copy &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase true &&
-	echo dirty >> file &&
+	echo dirty >>file &&
 	git add file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull &&
 	test "$COPY" = "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)" &&

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 7bb9031140..0ca4867e96 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -699,7 +699,8 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old patches' '
 	(
 		cd dst &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
-		test 1 = $(find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" | wc -l)
+		find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" >patches &&
+		test_line_count = 1 patches
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 0ca4867e96..18225d8430 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -206,15 +206,18 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if the index has unresolved entries' '
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
 	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
 	test_commit modified2 file &&
-	test -z "$(git ls-files -u)" &&
+	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
+	test_must_be_empty unmerged &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second &&
-	test -n "$(git ls-files -u)" &&
+	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
+	test_file_not_empty unmerged &&
 	cp file expected &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Pulling is not possible because you have unmerged files." err &&
 	test_cmp expected file &&
 	git add file &&
-	test -z "$(git ls-files -u)" &&
+	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
+	test_must_be_empty unmerged &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "You have not concluded your merge" err &&
 	test_cmp expected file
@@ -667,7 +670,8 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase detects upstreamed changes' '
 	(
 		cd dst &&
 		git pull --rebase &&
-		test -z "$(git ls-files -u)"
+		git ls-files -u >untracked &&
+		test_must_be_empty untracked
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 18225d8430..1af6ea06ee 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ test_expect_success 'fast-forwards working tree if branch head is updated' '
 	git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "fetch updated the current branch head" err &&
 	test "$(cat file)" = modified &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse third)" = "$(git rev-parse second)"
+	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
 	test_must_fail git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot fast-forward your working tree" err &&
 	test "$(cat file)" = conflict &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse third)" = "$(git rev-parse second)"
+	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase' '
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase' '
 	git commit -m "new file" &&
 	git tag before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase fast forward' '
 
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase . ff &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$(git rev-parse ff)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD ff &&
 
 	# The above only validates the result.  Did we actually bypass rebase?
 	git reflog -1 >reflog.actual &&
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase --autostash fast forward' '
 	git checkout behind &&
 	echo dirty >file &&
 	git pull --rebase --autostash . to-rebase-ff &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$(git rev-parse to-rebase-ff)"
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD to-rebase-ff
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with conflicts shows advice' '
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ test_expect_success 'failed --rebase shows advice' '
 test_expect_success '--rebase fails with multiple branches' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase . copy master 2>err &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$(git rev-parse before-rebase)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD before-rebase &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot rebase onto multiple branches" err &&
 	test modified = "$(git show HEAD:file)"
 '
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
@@ -407,14 +407,14 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase false &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" != "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev ! HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
 	test_i18ngrep "ignoring --verify-signatures for rebase" err
 '
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --no-verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
 	test_i18ngrep ! "verify-signatures" err
 '
@@ -443,8 +443,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase false &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^1)" = "$(git rev-parse before-preserve-rebase)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=true flattens keep-merge' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=1 is treated as true and flattens keep-merge' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase 1 &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -469,8 +469,8 @@ test_expect_success REBASE_P \
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse keep-merge)"
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 keep-merge
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=interactive' '
@@ -505,8 +505,8 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull --rebase=false . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^1)" = "$(git rev-parse before-preserve-rebase)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=true rebases and flattens keep-merge' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase=true . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -523,8 +523,8 @@ test_expect_success REBASE_P \
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull --rebase=preserve . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse keep-merge)"
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 keep-merge
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase=invalid fails' '
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-m
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -597,10 +597,10 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
 	echo dirty >>file &&
 	git add file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull &&
-	test "$COPY" = "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev "$COPY" me/copy &&
 	git checkout HEAD -- file &&
 	git pull &&
-	test "$COPY" != "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)"
+	test_cmp_rev ! "$COPY" me/copy
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase works on branch yet to be born' '

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 1af6ea06ee..8b7e7ae55d 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -255,7 +255,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase' '
 	git tag before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase fast forward' '
@@ -330,7 +332,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase fails with multiple branches' '
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase . copy master 2>err &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD before-rebase &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot rebase onto multiple branches" err &&
-	test modified = "$(git show HEAD:file)"
+	echo modified >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase succeeds with dirty working directory and rebase.autostash set' '
@@ -381,7 +385,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase' '
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --autostash & pull.rebase=true' '
@@ -399,7 +405,9 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase' '
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
@@ -408,14 +416,18 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase false &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev ! HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
 	test_i18ngrep "ignoring --verify-signatures for rebase" err
 '
 
@@ -423,7 +435,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --no-verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
 	test_i18ngrep ! "verify-signatures" err
 '
 
@@ -445,7 +459,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=true flattens keep-merge' '
@@ -453,7 +469,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=true flattens keep-merge' '
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=1 is treated as true and flattens keep-merge' '
@@ -461,7 +479,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=1 is treated as true and flattens keep-merge' '
 	test_config pull.rebase 1 &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success REBASE_P \
@@ -507,7 +527,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git pull --rebase=false . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase=true rebases and flattens keep-merge' '
@@ -515,7 +537,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=true rebases and flattens keep-merge' '
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase=true . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success REBASE_P \
@@ -537,7 +561,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-m
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
@@ -622,10 +648,16 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase fails on unborn branch with staged changes' '
 		cd empty_repo2 &&
 		echo staged-file >staged-file &&
 		git add staged-file &&
-		test "$(git ls-files)" = staged-file &&
+		echo staged-file >expect &&
+		git ls-files >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase .. master 2>err &&
-		test "$(git ls-files)" = staged-file &&
-		test "$(git show :staged-file)" = staged-file &&
+		echo staged-file >expect &&
+		git ls-files >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
+		echo staged-file >expect &&
+		git show :staged-file >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
 		test_i18ngrep "unborn branch with changes added to the index" err
 	)
 '

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 8b7e7ae55d..8ddf89e550 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -668,7 +668,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase fails on corrupt HEAD' '
 	(
 		cd corrupt &&
 		test_commit one &&
-		obj=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD | sed "s#^..#&/#") &&
+		git rev-parse --verify HEAD >head &&
+		obj=$(sed "s#^..#&/#" head) &&
 		rm -f .git/objects/$obj &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase
 	)

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 8ddf89e550..c9e4eec004 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@ test_pull_autostash () {
 	git add new_file &&
 	git pull "$@" . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test "$(cat new_file)" = dirty &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = "modified again"
+	echo dirty >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect new_file &&
+	echo "modified again" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 }
 
 test_pull_autostash_fail () {
@@ -110,9 +112,11 @@ test_expect_success 'test . as a remote' '
 	echo updated >file &&
 	git commit -a -m updated &&
 	git checkout copy &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git pull &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = updated &&
+	echo updated >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git reflog -1 >reflog.actual &&
 	sed "s/^[0-9a-f][0-9a-f]*/OBJID/" reflog.actual >reflog.fuzzy &&
 	echo "OBJID HEAD@{0}: pull: Fast-forward" >reflog.expected &&
@@ -125,9 +129,11 @@ test_expect_success 'the default remote . should not break explicit pull' '
 	git commit -a -m modified &&
 	git checkout copy &&
 	git reset --hard HEAD^ &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git pull . second &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = modified &&
+	echo modified >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git reflog -1 >reflog.actual &&
 	sed "s/^[0-9a-f][0-9a-f]*/OBJID/" reflog.actual >reflog.fuzzy &&
 	echo "OBJID HEAD@{0}: pull . second: Fast-forward" >reflog.expected &&
@@ -137,10 +143,12 @@ test_expect_success 'the default remote . should not break explicit pull' '
 test_expect_success 'fail if wildcard spec does not match any refs' '
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . "refs/nonexisting1/*:refs/nonexisting2/*" 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no candidates for merging" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if no branches specified with non-default remote' '
@@ -148,11 +156,13 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if no branches specified with non-default remote' '
 	test_when_finished "git remote remove test_remote" &&
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote origin &&
 	test_must_fail git pull test_remote 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "specify a branch on the command line" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if not on a branch' '
@@ -160,10 +170,12 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if not on a branch' '
 	test_when_finished "git remote remove origin" &&
 	git checkout HEAD^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "not currently on a branch" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if no configuration for current branch' '
@@ -172,10 +184,12 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if no configuration for current branch' '
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote test_remote &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no tracking information" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --all: fail if no configuration for current branch' '
@@ -184,10 +198,12 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --all: fail if no configuration for current branch' '
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote test_remote &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --all 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "There is no tracking information" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if upstream branch does not exist' '
@@ -195,16 +211,19 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if upstream branch does not exist' '
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote . &&
 	test_config branch.test.merge refs/heads/nonexisting &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no such ref was fetched" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if the index has unresolved entries' '
 	git checkout -b third second^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_commit modified2 file &&
 	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
 	test_must_be_empty unmerged &&
@@ -226,21 +245,25 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if the index has unresolved entries' '
 test_expect_success 'fast-forwards working tree if branch head is updated' '
 	git checkout -b third second^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "fetch updated the current branch head" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = modified &&
+	echo modified >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
 	git checkout -b third second^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	echo conflict >file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot fast-forward your working tree" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = conflict &&
+	echo conflict >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
@@ -501,7 +524,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=interactive' '
 	test_set_editor "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/fake-editor" &&
 	test_when_finished "test_might_fail git rebase --abort" &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase=interactive . copy &&
-	test "I was here" = "$(cat fake.out)"
+	echo "I was here" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect fake.out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase=i' '
@@ -512,7 +536,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase=i' '
 	test_set_editor "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/fake-editor" &&
 	test_when_finished "test_might_fail git rebase --abort" &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase=i . copy &&
-	test "I was here, too" = "$(cat fake.out)"
+	echo "I was here, too" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect fake.out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=invalid fails' '
@@ -578,16 +603,20 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
 	git commit -m to-rebase file2 &&
 	git tag to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase me copy &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase -f with rebased upstream' '
 	test_when_finished "test_might_fail git rebase --abort" &&
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase -f me copy &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased default upstream' '
@@ -595,8 +624,10 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased default upstream' '
 	git checkout --track -b to-rebase2 me/copy &&
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
@@ -607,8 +638,10 @@ test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git fetch &&
 	git pull --rebase &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 
 '
 
@@ -744,8 +777,10 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old patches' '
 test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase against local branch' '
 	git checkout -b copy2 to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase . to-rebase &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_done

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index c9e4eec004..ef3dbc201a 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -147,7 +147,6 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if wildcard spec does not match any refs' '
 	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . "refs/nonexisting1/*:refs/nonexisting2/*" 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no candidates for merging" err &&
-	echo file >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
@@ -161,7 +160,6 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if no branches specified with non-default remote' '
 	test_config branch.test.remote origin &&
 	test_must_fail git pull test_remote 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "specify a branch on the command line" err &&
-	echo file >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
@@ -174,7 +172,6 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if not on a branch' '
 	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "not currently on a branch" err &&
-	echo file >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
@@ -188,7 +185,6 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if no configuration for current branch' '
 	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no tracking information" err &&
-	echo file >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
@@ -202,7 +198,6 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --all: fail if no configuration for current branch' '
 	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --all 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "There is no tracking information" err &&
-	echo file >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
@@ -215,7 +210,6 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if upstream branch does not exist' '
 	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no such ref was fetched" err &&
-	echo file >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
@@ -685,10 +679,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase fails on unborn branch with staged changes' '
 		git ls-files >actual &&
 		test_cmp expect actual &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase .. master 2>err &&
-		echo staged-file >expect &&
 		git ls-files >actual &&
 		test_cmp expect actual &&
-		echo staged-file >expect &&
 		git show :staged-file >actual &&
 		test_cmp expect actual &&
 		test_i18ngrep "unborn branch with changes added to the index" err

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index ef3dbc201a..602d996a33 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -537,7 +537,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase=i' '
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=invalid fails' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase invalid &&
-	! git pull . copy
+	test_must_fail git pull . copy
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ test_expect_success REBASE_P \
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase=invalid fails' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
-	! git pull --rebase=invalid . copy
+	test_must_fail git pull --rebase=invalid . copy
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-merge' '

t/t2400-worktree-add.sh, t/t3400-rebase.sh, t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh, t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh, t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh, t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh, t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh, t/test-lib-functions.sh

diff --git a/t/t2400-worktree-add.sh b/t/t2400-worktree-add.sh
index e819ba741e..52d476979b 100755
--- a/t/t2400-worktree-add.sh
+++ b/t/t2400-worktree-add.sh
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git worktree add does not match remote' '
 		cd foo &&
 		test_must_fail git config "branch.foo.remote" &&
 		test_must_fail git config "branch.foo.merge" &&
-		! test_cmp_rev refs/remotes/repo_a/foo refs/heads/foo
+		test_cmp_rev ! refs/remotes/repo_a/foo refs/heads/foo
 	)
 '
 
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git worktree --no-guess-remote option overrides config' '
 		cd foo &&
 		test_must_fail git config "branch.foo.remote" &&
 		test_must_fail git config "branch.foo.merge" &&
-		! test_cmp_rev refs/remotes/repo_a/foo refs/heads/foo
+		test_cmp_rev ! refs/remotes/repo_a/foo refs/heads/foo
 	)
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t3400-rebase.sh b/t/t3400-rebase.sh
index ab18ac5f28..f267f6cd54 100755
--- a/t/t3400-rebase.sh
+++ b/t/t3400-rebase.sh
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ test_expect_success 'rebase sets ORIG_HEAD to pre-rebase state' '
 	pre="$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD)" &&
 	git rebase master &&
 	test_cmp_rev "$pre" ORIG_HEAD &&
-	! test_cmp_rev "$pre" HEAD
+	test_cmp_rev ! "$pre" HEAD
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rebase, with <onto> and <upstream> specified as :/quuxery' '
diff --git a/t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh b/t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh
index b847064f91..325072b0a3 100755
--- a/t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh
+++ b/t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ test_run_rebase () {
 	test_expect_$result "rebase $* -f rewrites even if upstream is an ancestor" "
 		reset_rebase &&
 		git rebase $* -f b e &&
-		! test_cmp_rev e HEAD &&
+		test_cmp_rev ! e HEAD &&
 		test_cmp_rev b HEAD~2 &&
 		test_linear_range 'd e' b..
 	"
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ test_run_rebase () {
 	test_expect_$result "rebase $* -f rewrites even if remote upstream is an ancestor" "
 		reset_rebase &&
 		git rebase $* -f branch-b branch-e &&
-		! test_cmp_rev branch-e origin/branch-e &&
+		test_cmp_rev ! branch-e origin/branch-e &&
 		test_cmp_rev branch-b HEAD~2 &&
 		test_linear_range 'd e' branch-b..
 	"
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ test_run_rebase () {
 	test_expect_$result "rebase $* -f --root on linear history causes re-write" "
 		reset_rebase &&
 		git rebase $* -f --root c &&
-		! test_cmp_rev a HEAD~2 &&
+		test_cmp_rev ! a HEAD~2 &&
 		test_linear_range 'a b c' HEAD
 	"
 }
diff --git a/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh b/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
index 9efcf4808a..abbdc26b1b 100755
--- a/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
+++ b/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ test_expect_success 'A root commit can be a cousin, treat it that way' '
 	git merge --allow-unrelated-histories khnum &&
 	test_tick &&
 	git rebase -f -r HEAD^ &&
-	! test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 khnum &&
+	test_cmp_rev ! HEAD^2 khnum &&
 	test_cmp_graph HEAD^.. <<-\EOF &&
 	*   Merge branch '\''khnum'\'' into asherah
 	|\
diff --git a/t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh b/t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh
index 034ffc7e76..92f95b57da 100755
--- a/t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh
+++ b/t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ test_rebase_same_head_ () {
 			test_cmp_rev \$oldhead \$newhead
 		elif test $cmp = diff
 		then
-			! test_cmp_rev \$oldhead \$newhead
+			test_cmp_rev ! \$oldhead \$newhead
 		fi
 	"
 }
diff --git a/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh b/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh
index d1c68af8c5..1c51a9131d 100755
--- a/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh
+++ b/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cherry-pick on unborn branch' '
 	rm -rf * &&
 	git cherry-pick initial &&
 	git diff --quiet initial &&
-	! test_cmp_rev initial HEAD
+	test_cmp_rev ! initial HEAD
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'cherry-pick "-" to pick from previous branch' '
diff --git a/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh b/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh
index b457333e18..23070a7b73 100755
--- a/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh
+++ b/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ test_description='test cherry-picking many commits'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 check_head_differs_from() {
-	! test_cmp_rev HEAD "$1"
+	test_cmp_rev ! HEAD "$1"
 }
 
 check_head_equals() {
diff --git a/t/test-lib-functions.sh b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
index b299ecc326..064131ac39 100644
--- a/t/test-lib-functions.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
@@ -1012,8 +1012,17 @@ test_must_be_empty () {
 	fi
 }
 
-# Tests that its two parameters refer to the same revision
+# Tests that its two parameters refer to the same revision, or if '!' is
+# provided first, that its other two parameters refer to different
+# revisions.
 test_cmp_rev () {
+	local inverted_op
+	inverted_op='!='
+	if test $# -ge 1 && test "x$1" = 'x!'
+	then
+	    inverted_op='='
+	    shift
+	fi
 	if test $# != 2
 	then
 		error "bug in the test script: test_cmp_rev requires two revisions, but got $#"
@@ -1021,10 +1030,17 @@ test_cmp_rev () {
 		local r1 r2
 		r1=$(git rev-parse --verify "$1") &&
 		r2=$(git rev-parse --verify "$2") &&
-		if test "$r1" != "$r2"
+		if test "$r1" "$inverted_op" "$r2"
 		then
+			local comp_out
+			if "x$inverted_op" = 'x='
+			then
+				comp_out='the same'
+			else
+				comp_out='different'
+			fi
 			cat >&4 <<-EOF
-			error: two revisions point to different objects:
+			error: two revisions point to $comp_out objects:
 			  '$1': $r1
 			  '$2': $r2
 			EOF

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index cf4cc32fd0..51d6ce8aec 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -538,7 +538,6 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-m
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
-
 	git remote add -f me . &&
 	git checkout copy &&
 	git tag copy-orig &&
@@ -552,7 +551,6 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
 	git pull --rebase me copy &&
 	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
 	test file = "$(cat file2)"
-
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase -f with rebased upstream' '
@@ -564,14 +562,12 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase -f with rebased upstream' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased default upstream' '
-
 	git update-ref refs/remotes/me/copy copy-orig &&
 	git checkout --track -b to-rebase2 me/copy &&
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase &&
 	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
 	test file = "$(cat file2)"
-
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
@@ -588,7 +584,6 @@ test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
-
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
 	git update-ref refs/remotes/me/copy copy^ &&
 	COPY="$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)" &&
@@ -603,16 +598,16 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
 	git checkout HEAD -- file &&
 	git pull &&
 	test "$COPY" != "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)"
-
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase works on branch yet to be born' '
 	git rev-parse master >expect &&
 	mkdir empty_repo &&
-	(cd empty_repo &&
-	 git init &&
-	 git pull --rebase .. master &&
-	 git rev-parse HEAD >../actual
+	(
+		cd empty_repo &&
+		git init &&
+		git pull --rebase .. master &&
+		git rev-parse HEAD >../actual
 	) &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
@@ -646,58 +641,65 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase fails on corrupt HEAD' '
 
 test_expect_success 'setup for detecting upstreamed changes' '
 	mkdir src &&
-	(cd src &&
-	 git init &&
-	 printf "1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n" > stuff &&
-	 git add stuff &&
-	 git commit -m "Initial revision"
+	(
+		cd src &&
+		git init &&
+		printf "1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n" > stuff &&
+		git add stuff &&
+		git commit -m "Initial revision"
 	) &&
 	git clone src dst &&
-	(cd src &&
-	 modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "5->43" &&
-	 modify s/6/42/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Make it bigger"
+	(
+		cd src &&
+		modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "5->43" &&
+		modify s/6/42/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Make it bigger"
 	) &&
-	(cd dst &&
-	 modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Independent discovery of 5->43"
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Independent discovery of 5->43"
 	)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase detects upstreamed changes' '
-	(cd dst &&
-	 git pull --rebase &&
-	 test -z "$(git ls-files -u)"
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		git pull --rebase &&
+		test -z "$(git ls-files -u)"
 	)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'setup for avoiding reapplying old patches' '
-	(cd dst &&
-	 test_might_fail git rebase --abort &&
-	 git reset --hard origin/master
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		test_might_fail git rebase --abort &&
+		git reset --hard origin/master
 	) &&
 	git clone --bare src src-replace.git &&
 	rm -rf src &&
 	mv src-replace.git src &&
-	(cd dst &&
-	 modify s/2/22/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Change 2" &&
-	 modify s/3/33/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Change 3" &&
-	 modify s/4/44/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Change 4" &&
-	 git push &&
-
-	 modify s/44/55/ stuff &&
-	 git commit --amend -a -m "Modified Change 4"
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		modify s/2/22/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Change 2" &&
+		modify s/3/33/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Change 3" &&
+		modify s/4/44/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Change 4" &&
+		git push &&
+
+		modify s/44/55/ stuff &&
+		git commit --amend -a -m "Modified Change 4"
 	)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old patches' '
-	(cd dst &&
-	 test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
-	 test 1 = $(find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" | wc -l)
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
+		test 1 = $(find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" | wc -l)
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 51d6ce8aec..a3de2e19b6 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
-test_expect_success "pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures" '
+test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ test_expect_success "pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures" '
 	test_i18ngrep "ignoring --verify-signatures for rebase" err
 '
 
-test_expect_success "pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures" '
+test_expect_success 'pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --no-verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index a3de2e19b6..55560ce3cd 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ test_description='pulling into void'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 modify () {
-	sed -e "$1" <"$2" >"$2.x" &&
+	sed -e "$1" "$2" >"$2.x" &&
 	mv "$2.x" "$2"
 }
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 55560ce3cd..004d5884cd 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling into void' '
 		cd cloned &&
 		git pull ..
 	) &&
-	test -f file &&
-	test -f cloned/file &&
+	test_path_is_file file &&
+	test_path_is_file cloned/file &&
 	test_cmp file cloned/file
 '
 
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling into void using master:master' '
 		cd cloned-uho &&
 		git pull .. master:master
 	) &&
-	test -f file &&
-	test -f cloned-uho/file &&
+	test_path_is_file file &&
+	test_path_is_file cloned-uho/file &&
 	test_cmp file cloned-uho/file
 '
 
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling into void must not create an octopus' '
 	(
 		cd cloned-octopus &&
 		test_must_fail git pull .. master master &&
-		! test -f file
+		test_path_is_missing file
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 004d5884cd..7bb9031140 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -243,10 +243,10 @@ test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase' '
 	git branch to-rebase &&
-	echo modified again > file &&
+	echo modified again >file &&
 	git commit -m file file &&
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
-	echo new > file2 &&
+	echo new >file2 &&
 	git add file2 &&
 	git commit -m "new file" &&
 	git tag before-rebase &&
@@ -542,10 +542,10 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
 	git checkout copy &&
 	git tag copy-orig &&
 	git reset --hard HEAD^ &&
-	echo conflicting modification > file &&
+	echo conflicting modification >file &&
 	git commit -m conflict file &&
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
-	echo file > file2 &&
+	echo file >file2 &&
 	git commit -m to-rebase file2 &&
 	git tag to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase me copy &&
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.remote me &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.merge refs/heads/copy &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase true &&
-	echo dirty >> file &&
+	echo dirty >>file &&
 	git add file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull &&
 	test "$COPY" = "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)" &&

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 7bb9031140..0ca4867e96 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -699,7 +699,8 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old patches' '
 	(
 		cd dst &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
-		test 1 = $(find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" | wc -l)
+		find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" >patches &&
+		test_line_count = 1 patches
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 0ca4867e96..18225d8430 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -206,15 +206,18 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if the index has unresolved entries' '
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
 	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
 	test_commit modified2 file &&
-	test -z "$(git ls-files -u)" &&
+	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
+	test_must_be_empty unmerged &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second &&
-	test -n "$(git ls-files -u)" &&
+	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
+	test_file_not_empty unmerged &&
 	cp file expected &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Pulling is not possible because you have unmerged files." err &&
 	test_cmp expected file &&
 	git add file &&
-	test -z "$(git ls-files -u)" &&
+	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
+	test_must_be_empty unmerged &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "You have not concluded your merge" err &&
 	test_cmp expected file
@@ -667,7 +670,8 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase detects upstreamed changes' '
 	(
 		cd dst &&
 		git pull --rebase &&
-		test -z "$(git ls-files -u)"
+		git ls-files -u >untracked &&
+		test_must_be_empty untracked
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 18225d8430..1af6ea06ee 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ test_expect_success 'fast-forwards working tree if branch head is updated' '
 	git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "fetch updated the current branch head" err &&
 	test "$(cat file)" = modified &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse third)" = "$(git rev-parse second)"
+	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
 	test_must_fail git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot fast-forward your working tree" err &&
 	test "$(cat file)" = conflict &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse third)" = "$(git rev-parse second)"
+	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase' '
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase' '
 	git commit -m "new file" &&
 	git tag before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase fast forward' '
 
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase . ff &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$(git rev-parse ff)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD ff &&
 
 	# The above only validates the result.  Did we actually bypass rebase?
 	git reflog -1 >reflog.actual &&
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase --autostash fast forward' '
 	git checkout behind &&
 	echo dirty >file &&
 	git pull --rebase --autostash . to-rebase-ff &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$(git rev-parse to-rebase-ff)"
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD to-rebase-ff
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with conflicts shows advice' '
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ test_expect_success 'failed --rebase shows advice' '
 test_expect_success '--rebase fails with multiple branches' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase . copy master 2>err &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$(git rev-parse before-rebase)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD before-rebase &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot rebase onto multiple branches" err &&
 	test modified = "$(git show HEAD:file)"
 '
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
@@ -407,14 +407,14 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase false &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" != "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev ! HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
 	test_i18ngrep "ignoring --verify-signatures for rebase" err
 '
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --no-verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
 	test_i18ngrep ! "verify-signatures" err
 '
@@ -443,8 +443,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase false &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^1)" = "$(git rev-parse before-preserve-rebase)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=true flattens keep-merge' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=1 is treated as true and flattens keep-merge' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase 1 &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -469,8 +469,8 @@ test_expect_success REBASE_P \
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse keep-merge)"
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 keep-merge
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=interactive' '
@@ -505,8 +505,8 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull --rebase=false . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^1)" = "$(git rev-parse before-preserve-rebase)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=true rebases and flattens keep-merge' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase=true . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -523,8 +523,8 @@ test_expect_success REBASE_P \
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull --rebase=preserve . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse keep-merge)"
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 keep-merge
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase=invalid fails' '
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-m
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -597,10 +597,10 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
 	echo dirty >>file &&
 	git add file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull &&
-	test "$COPY" = "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev "$COPY" me/copy &&
 	git checkout HEAD -- file &&
 	git pull &&
-	test "$COPY" != "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)"
+	test_cmp_rev ! "$COPY" me/copy
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase works on branch yet to be born' '

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 1af6ea06ee..8b7e7ae55d 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -255,7 +255,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase' '
 	git tag before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase fast forward' '
@@ -330,7 +332,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase fails with multiple branches' '
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase . copy master 2>err &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD before-rebase &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot rebase onto multiple branches" err &&
-	test modified = "$(git show HEAD:file)"
+	echo modified >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase succeeds with dirty working directory and rebase.autostash set' '
@@ -381,7 +385,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase' '
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --autostash & pull.rebase=true' '
@@ -399,7 +405,9 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase' '
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
@@ -408,14 +416,18 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase false &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev ! HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
 	test_i18ngrep "ignoring --verify-signatures for rebase" err
 '
 
@@ -423,7 +435,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --no-verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
 	test_i18ngrep ! "verify-signatures" err
 '
 
@@ -445,7 +459,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=true flattens keep-merge' '
@@ -453,7 +469,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=true flattens keep-merge' '
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=1 is treated as true and flattens keep-merge' '
@@ -461,7 +479,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=1 is treated as true and flattens keep-merge' '
 	test_config pull.rebase 1 &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success REBASE_P \
@@ -507,7 +527,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git pull --rebase=false . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase=true rebases and flattens keep-merge' '
@@ -515,7 +537,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=true rebases and flattens keep-merge' '
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase=true . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success REBASE_P \
@@ -537,7 +561,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-m
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
@@ -622,10 +648,16 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase fails on unborn branch with staged changes' '
 		cd empty_repo2 &&
 		echo staged-file >staged-file &&
 		git add staged-file &&
-		test "$(git ls-files)" = staged-file &&
+		echo staged-file >expect &&
+		git ls-files >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase .. master 2>err &&
-		test "$(git ls-files)" = staged-file &&
-		test "$(git show :staged-file)" = staged-file &&
+		echo staged-file >expect &&
+		git ls-files >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
+		echo staged-file >expect &&
+		git show :staged-file >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
 		test_i18ngrep "unborn branch with changes added to the index" err
 	)
 '

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 8b7e7ae55d..8ddf89e550 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -668,7 +668,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase fails on corrupt HEAD' '
 	(
 		cd corrupt &&
 		test_commit one &&
-		obj=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD | sed "s#^..#&/#") &&
+		git rev-parse --verify HEAD >head &&
+		obj=$(sed "s#^..#&/#" head) &&
 		rm -f .git/objects/$obj &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase
 	)

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 8ddf89e550..c9e4eec004 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@ test_pull_autostash () {
 	git add new_file &&
 	git pull "$@" . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test "$(cat new_file)" = dirty &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = "modified again"
+	echo dirty >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect new_file &&
+	echo "modified again" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 }
 
 test_pull_autostash_fail () {
@@ -110,9 +112,11 @@ test_expect_success 'test . as a remote' '
 	echo updated >file &&
 	git commit -a -m updated &&
 	git checkout copy &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git pull &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = updated &&
+	echo updated >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git reflog -1 >reflog.actual &&
 	sed "s/^[0-9a-f][0-9a-f]*/OBJID/" reflog.actual >reflog.fuzzy &&
 	echo "OBJID HEAD@{0}: pull: Fast-forward" >reflog.expected &&
@@ -125,9 +129,11 @@ test_expect_success 'the default remote . should not break explicit pull' '
 	git commit -a -m modified &&
 	git checkout copy &&
 	git reset --hard HEAD^ &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git pull . second &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = modified &&
+	echo modified >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git reflog -1 >reflog.actual &&
 	sed "s/^[0-9a-f][0-9a-f]*/OBJID/" reflog.actual >reflog.fuzzy &&
 	echo "OBJID HEAD@{0}: pull . second: Fast-forward" >reflog.expected &&
@@ -137,10 +143,12 @@ test_expect_success 'the default remote . should not break explicit pull' '
 test_expect_success 'fail if wildcard spec does not match any refs' '
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . "refs/nonexisting1/*:refs/nonexisting2/*" 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no candidates for merging" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if no branches specified with non-default remote' '
@@ -148,11 +156,13 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if no branches specified with non-default remote' '
 	test_when_finished "git remote remove test_remote" &&
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote origin &&
 	test_must_fail git pull test_remote 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "specify a branch on the command line" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if not on a branch' '
@@ -160,10 +170,12 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if not on a branch' '
 	test_when_finished "git remote remove origin" &&
 	git checkout HEAD^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "not currently on a branch" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if no configuration for current branch' '
@@ -172,10 +184,12 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if no configuration for current branch' '
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote test_remote &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no tracking information" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --all: fail if no configuration for current branch' '
@@ -184,10 +198,12 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --all: fail if no configuration for current branch' '
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote test_remote &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --all 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "There is no tracking information" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if upstream branch does not exist' '
@@ -195,16 +211,19 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if upstream branch does not exist' '
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote . &&
 	test_config branch.test.merge refs/heads/nonexisting &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no such ref was fetched" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if the index has unresolved entries' '
 	git checkout -b third second^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_commit modified2 file &&
 	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
 	test_must_be_empty unmerged &&
@@ -226,21 +245,25 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if the index has unresolved entries' '
 test_expect_success 'fast-forwards working tree if branch head is updated' '
 	git checkout -b third second^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "fetch updated the current branch head" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = modified &&
+	echo modified >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
 	git checkout -b third second^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	echo conflict >file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot fast-forward your working tree" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = conflict &&
+	echo conflict >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
@@ -501,7 +524,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=interactive' '
 	test_set_editor "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/fake-editor" &&
 	test_when_finished "test_might_fail git rebase --abort" &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase=interactive . copy &&
-	test "I was here" = "$(cat fake.out)"
+	echo "I was here" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect fake.out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase=i' '
@@ -512,7 +536,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase=i' '
 	test_set_editor "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/fake-editor" &&
 	test_when_finished "test_might_fail git rebase --abort" &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase=i . copy &&
-	test "I was here, too" = "$(cat fake.out)"
+	echo "I was here, too" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect fake.out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=invalid fails' '
@@ -578,16 +603,20 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
 	git commit -m to-rebase file2 &&
 	git tag to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase me copy &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase -f with rebased upstream' '
 	test_when_finished "test_might_fail git rebase --abort" &&
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase -f me copy &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased default upstream' '
@@ -595,8 +624,10 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased default upstream' '
 	git checkout --track -b to-rebase2 me/copy &&
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
@@ -607,8 +638,10 @@ test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git fetch &&
 	git pull --rebase &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 
 '
 
@@ -744,8 +777,10 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old patches' '
 test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase against local branch' '
 	git checkout -b copy2 to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase . to-rebase &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_done

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index c9e4eec004..ef3dbc201a 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -147,7 +147,6 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if wildcard spec does not match any refs' '
 	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . "refs/nonexisting1/*:refs/nonexisting2/*" 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no candidates for merging" err &&
-	echo file >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
@@ -161,7 +160,6 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if no branches specified with non-default remote' '
 	test_config branch.test.remote origin &&
 	test_must_fail git pull test_remote 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "specify a branch on the command line" err &&
-	echo file >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
@@ -174,7 +172,6 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if not on a branch' '
 	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "not currently on a branch" err &&
-	echo file >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
@@ -188,7 +185,6 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if no configuration for current branch' '
 	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no tracking information" err &&
-	echo file >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
@@ -202,7 +198,6 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --all: fail if no configuration for current branch' '
 	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --all 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "There is no tracking information" err &&
-	echo file >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
@@ -215,7 +210,6 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if upstream branch does not exist' '
 	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no such ref was fetched" err &&
-	echo file >expect &&
 	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
@@ -685,10 +679,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase fails on unborn branch with staged changes' '
 		git ls-files >actual &&
 		test_cmp expect actual &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase .. master 2>err &&
-		echo staged-file >expect &&
 		git ls-files >actual &&
 		test_cmp expect actual &&
-		echo staged-file >expect &&
 		git show :staged-file >actual &&
 		test_cmp expect actual &&
 		test_i18ngrep "unborn branch with changes added to the index" err

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index ef3dbc201a..602d996a33 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -537,7 +537,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase=i' '
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=invalid fails' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase invalid &&
-	! git pull . copy
+	test_must_fail git pull . copy
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ test_expect_success REBASE_P \
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase=invalid fails' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
-	! git pull --rebase=invalid . copy
+	test_must_fail git pull --rebase=invalid . copy
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-merge' '

t/t2400-worktree-add.sh, t/t3400-rebase.sh, t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh, t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh, t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh, t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh, t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh, t/test-lib-functions.sh

diff --git a/t/t2400-worktree-add.sh b/t/t2400-worktree-add.sh
index e819ba741e..52d476979b 100755
--- a/t/t2400-worktree-add.sh
+++ b/t/t2400-worktree-add.sh
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git worktree add does not match remote' '
 		cd foo &&
 		test_must_fail git config "branch.foo.remote" &&
 		test_must_fail git config "branch.foo.merge" &&
-		! test_cmp_rev refs/remotes/repo_a/foo refs/heads/foo
+		test_cmp_rev ! refs/remotes/repo_a/foo refs/heads/foo
 	)
 '
 
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git worktree --no-guess-remote option overrides config' '
 		cd foo &&
 		test_must_fail git config "branch.foo.remote" &&
 		test_must_fail git config "branch.foo.merge" &&
-		! test_cmp_rev refs/remotes/repo_a/foo refs/heads/foo
+		test_cmp_rev ! refs/remotes/repo_a/foo refs/heads/foo
 	)
 '
 
diff --git a/t/t3400-rebase.sh b/t/t3400-rebase.sh
index ab18ac5f28..f267f6cd54 100755
--- a/t/t3400-rebase.sh
+++ b/t/t3400-rebase.sh
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ test_expect_success 'rebase sets ORIG_HEAD to pre-rebase state' '
 	pre="$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD)" &&
 	git rebase master &&
 	test_cmp_rev "$pre" ORIG_HEAD &&
-	! test_cmp_rev "$pre" HEAD
+	test_cmp_rev ! "$pre" HEAD
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rebase, with <onto> and <upstream> specified as :/quuxery' '
diff --git a/t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh b/t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh
index b847064f91..325072b0a3 100755
--- a/t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh
+++ b/t/t3421-rebase-topology-linear.sh
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ test_run_rebase () {
 	test_expect_$result "rebase $* -f rewrites even if upstream is an ancestor" "
 		reset_rebase &&
 		git rebase $* -f b e &&
-		! test_cmp_rev e HEAD &&
+		test_cmp_rev ! e HEAD &&
 		test_cmp_rev b HEAD~2 &&
 		test_linear_range 'd e' b..
 	"
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ test_run_rebase () {
 	test_expect_$result "rebase $* -f rewrites even if remote upstream is an ancestor" "
 		reset_rebase &&
 		git rebase $* -f branch-b branch-e &&
-		! test_cmp_rev branch-e origin/branch-e &&
+		test_cmp_rev ! branch-e origin/branch-e &&
 		test_cmp_rev branch-b HEAD~2 &&
 		test_linear_range 'd e' branch-b..
 	"
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ test_run_rebase () {
 	test_expect_$result "rebase $* -f --root on linear history causes re-write" "
 		reset_rebase &&
 		git rebase $* -f --root c &&
-		! test_cmp_rev a HEAD~2 &&
+		test_cmp_rev ! a HEAD~2 &&
 		test_linear_range 'a b c' HEAD
 	"
 }
diff --git a/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh b/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
index 9efcf4808a..abbdc26b1b 100755
--- a/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
+++ b/t/t3430-rebase-merges.sh
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ test_expect_success 'A root commit can be a cousin, treat it that way' '
 	git merge --allow-unrelated-histories khnum &&
 	test_tick &&
 	git rebase -f -r HEAD^ &&
-	! test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 khnum &&
+	test_cmp_rev ! HEAD^2 khnum &&
 	test_cmp_graph HEAD^.. <<-\EOF &&
 	*   Merge branch '\''khnum'\'' into asherah
 	|\
diff --git a/t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh b/t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh
index 034ffc7e76..92f95b57da 100755
--- a/t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh
+++ b/t/t3432-rebase-fast-forward.sh
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ test_rebase_same_head_ () {
 			test_cmp_rev \$oldhead \$newhead
 		elif test $cmp = diff
 		then
-			! test_cmp_rev \$oldhead \$newhead
+			test_cmp_rev ! \$oldhead \$newhead
 		fi
 	"
 }
diff --git a/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh b/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh
index d1c68af8c5..1c51a9131d 100755
--- a/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh
+++ b/t/t3501-revert-cherry-pick.sh
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cherry-pick on unborn branch' '
 	rm -rf * &&
 	git cherry-pick initial &&
 	git diff --quiet initial &&
-	! test_cmp_rev initial HEAD
+	test_cmp_rev ! initial HEAD
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'cherry-pick "-" to pick from previous branch' '
diff --git a/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh b/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh
index b457333e18..23070a7b73 100755
--- a/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh
+++ b/t/t3508-cherry-pick-many-commits.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ test_description='test cherry-picking many commits'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 check_head_differs_from() {
-	! test_cmp_rev HEAD "$1"
+	test_cmp_rev ! HEAD "$1"
 }
 
 check_head_equals() {
diff --git a/t/test-lib-functions.sh b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
index b299ecc326..01cdbb0478 100644
--- a/t/test-lib-functions.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
@@ -1012,19 +1012,36 @@ test_must_be_empty () {
 	fi
 }
 
-# Tests that its two parameters refer to the same revision
+# Tests that its two parameters refer to the same revision, or if '!' is
+# provided first, that its other two parameters refer to different
+# revisions.
 test_cmp_rev () {
+	local op
+	op='='
+	if test $# -ge 1 && test "x$1" = 'x!'
+	then
+	    op='!='
+	    shift
+	fi
 	if test $# != 2
 	then
 		error "bug in the test script: test_cmp_rev requires two revisions, but got $#"
 	else
 		local r1 r2
 		r1=$(git rev-parse --verify "$1") &&
-		r2=$(git rev-parse --verify "$2") &&
-		if test "$r1" != "$r2"
+		r2=$(git rev-parse --verify "$2") || return 1
+
+		if ! test "$r1" "$op" "$r2"
 		then
+			local comp_out
+			if "x$op" = 'x='
+			then
+				comp_out='different'
+			else
+				comp_out='the same'
+			fi
 			cat >&4 <<-EOF
-			error: two revisions point to different objects:
+			error: two revisions point to $comp_out objects:
 			  '$1': $r1
 			  '$2': $r2
 			EOF

diff --git a/t/test-lib-functions.sh b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
index 01cdbb0478..15f4c96777 100644
--- a/t/test-lib-functions.sh
+++ b/t/test-lib-functions.sh
@@ -1016,11 +1016,13 @@ test_must_be_empty () {
 # provided first, that its other two parameters refer to different
 # revisions.
 test_cmp_rev () {
-	local op
+	local op wrong_result
 	op='='
+	wrong_result='different'
 	if test $# -ge 1 && test "x$1" = 'x!'
 	then
 	    op='!='
+	    wrong_result='the same'
 	    shift
 	fi
 	if test $# != 2
@@ -1033,15 +1035,8 @@ test_cmp_rev () {
 
 		if ! test "$r1" "$op" "$r2"
 		then
-			local comp_out
-			if "x$op" = 'x='
-			then
-				comp_out='different'
-			else
-				comp_out='the same'
-			fi
 			cat >&4 <<-EOF
-			error: two revisions point to $comp_out objects:
+			error: two revisions point to $wrong_result objects:
 			  '$1': $r1
 			  '$2': $r2
 			EOF

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index cf4cc32fd0..51d6ce8aec 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -538,7 +538,6 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-m
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
-
 	git remote add -f me . &&
 	git checkout copy &&
 	git tag copy-orig &&
@@ -552,7 +551,6 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
 	git pull --rebase me copy &&
 	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
 	test file = "$(cat file2)"
-
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase -f with rebased upstream' '
@@ -564,14 +562,12 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase -f with rebased upstream' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased default upstream' '
-
 	git update-ref refs/remotes/me/copy copy-orig &&
 	git checkout --track -b to-rebase2 me/copy &&
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase &&
 	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
 	test file = "$(cat file2)"
-
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
@@ -588,7 +584,6 @@ test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
-
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
 	git update-ref refs/remotes/me/copy copy^ &&
 	COPY="$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)" &&
@@ -603,16 +598,16 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
 	git checkout HEAD -- file &&
 	git pull &&
 	test "$COPY" != "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)"
-
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase works on branch yet to be born' '
 	git rev-parse master >expect &&
 	mkdir empty_repo &&
-	(cd empty_repo &&
-	 git init &&
-	 git pull --rebase .. master &&
-	 git rev-parse HEAD >../actual
+	(
+		cd empty_repo &&
+		git init &&
+		git pull --rebase .. master &&
+		git rev-parse HEAD >../actual
 	) &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
@@ -646,58 +641,65 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase fails on corrupt HEAD' '
 
 test_expect_success 'setup for detecting upstreamed changes' '
 	mkdir src &&
-	(cd src &&
-	 git init &&
-	 printf "1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n" > stuff &&
-	 git add stuff &&
-	 git commit -m "Initial revision"
+	(
+		cd src &&
+		git init &&
+		printf "1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n" > stuff &&
+		git add stuff &&
+		git commit -m "Initial revision"
 	) &&
 	git clone src dst &&
-	(cd src &&
-	 modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "5->43" &&
-	 modify s/6/42/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Make it bigger"
+	(
+		cd src &&
+		modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "5->43" &&
+		modify s/6/42/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Make it bigger"
 	) &&
-	(cd dst &&
-	 modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Independent discovery of 5->43"
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		modify s/5/43/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Independent discovery of 5->43"
 	)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase detects upstreamed changes' '
-	(cd dst &&
-	 git pull --rebase &&
-	 test -z "$(git ls-files -u)"
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		git pull --rebase &&
+		test -z "$(git ls-files -u)"
 	)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'setup for avoiding reapplying old patches' '
-	(cd dst &&
-	 test_might_fail git rebase --abort &&
-	 git reset --hard origin/master
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		test_might_fail git rebase --abort &&
+		git reset --hard origin/master
 	) &&
 	git clone --bare src src-replace.git &&
 	rm -rf src &&
 	mv src-replace.git src &&
-	(cd dst &&
-	 modify s/2/22/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Change 2" &&
-	 modify s/3/33/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Change 3" &&
-	 modify s/4/44/ stuff &&
-	 git commit -a -m "Change 4" &&
-	 git push &&
-
-	 modify s/44/55/ stuff &&
-	 git commit --amend -a -m "Modified Change 4"
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		modify s/2/22/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Change 2" &&
+		modify s/3/33/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Change 3" &&
+		modify s/4/44/ stuff &&
+		git commit -a -m "Change 4" &&
+		git push &&
+
+		modify s/44/55/ stuff &&
+		git commit --amend -a -m "Modified Change 4"
 	)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old patches' '
-	(cd dst &&
-	 test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
-	 test 1 = $(find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" | wc -l)
+	(
+		cd dst &&
+		test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
+		test 1 = $(find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" | wc -l)
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 51d6ce8aec..a3de2e19b6 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
-test_expect_success "pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures" '
+test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ test_expect_success "pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures" '
 	test_i18ngrep "ignoring --verify-signatures for rebase" err
 '
 
-test_expect_success "pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures" '
+test_expect_success 'pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --no-verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index a3de2e19b6..55560ce3cd 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ test_description='pulling into void'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 modify () {
-	sed -e "$1" <"$2" >"$2.x" &&
+	sed -e "$1" "$2" >"$2.x" &&
 	mv "$2.x" "$2"
 }
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 55560ce3cd..004d5884cd 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling into void' '
 		cd cloned &&
 		git pull ..
 	) &&
-	test -f file &&
-	test -f cloned/file &&
+	test_path_is_file file &&
+	test_path_is_file cloned/file &&
 	test_cmp file cloned/file
 '
 
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling into void using master:master' '
 		cd cloned-uho &&
 		git pull .. master:master
 	) &&
-	test -f file &&
-	test -f cloned-uho/file &&
+	test_path_is_file file &&
+	test_path_is_file cloned-uho/file &&
 	test_cmp file cloned-uho/file
 '
 
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pulling into void must not create an octopus' '
 	(
 		cd cloned-octopus &&
 		test_must_fail git pull .. master master &&
-		! test -f file
+		test_path_is_missing file
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 004d5884cd..7bb9031140 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -243,10 +243,10 @@ test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase' '
 	git branch to-rebase &&
-	echo modified again > file &&
+	echo modified again >file &&
 	git commit -m file file &&
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
-	echo new > file2 &&
+	echo new >file2 &&
 	git add file2 &&
 	git commit -m "new file" &&
 	git tag before-rebase &&
@@ -542,10 +542,10 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
 	git checkout copy &&
 	git tag copy-orig &&
 	git reset --hard HEAD^ &&
-	echo conflicting modification > file &&
+	echo conflicting modification >file &&
 	git commit -m conflict file &&
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
-	echo file > file2 &&
+	echo file >file2 &&
 	git commit -m to-rebase file2 &&
 	git tag to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase me copy &&
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.remote me &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.merge refs/heads/copy &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase true &&
-	echo dirty >> file &&
+	echo dirty >>file &&
 	git add file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull &&
 	test "$COPY" = "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)" &&

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 7bb9031140..0ca4867e96 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -699,7 +699,8 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old patches' '
 	(
 		cd dst &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase &&
-		test 1 = $(find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" | wc -l)
+		find .git/rebase-apply -name "000*" >patches &&
+		test_line_count = 1 patches
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 0ca4867e96..18225d8430 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -206,15 +206,18 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if the index has unresolved entries' '
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
 	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
 	test_commit modified2 file &&
-	test -z "$(git ls-files -u)" &&
+	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
+	test_must_be_empty unmerged &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second &&
-	test -n "$(git ls-files -u)" &&
+	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
+	test_file_not_empty unmerged &&
 	cp file expected &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Pulling is not possible because you have unmerged files." err &&
 	test_cmp expected file &&
 	git add file &&
-	test -z "$(git ls-files -u)" &&
+	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
+	test_must_be_empty unmerged &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "You have not concluded your merge" err &&
 	test_cmp expected file
@@ -667,7 +670,8 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase detects upstreamed changes' '
 	(
 		cd dst &&
 		git pull --rebase &&
-		test -z "$(git ls-files -u)"
+		git ls-files -u >untracked &&
+		test_must_be_empty untracked
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 18225d8430..1af6ea06ee 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ test_expect_success 'fast-forwards working tree if branch head is updated' '
 	git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "fetch updated the current branch head" err &&
 	test "$(cat file)" = modified &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse third)" = "$(git rev-parse second)"
+	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
 	test_must_fail git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot fast-forward your working tree" err &&
 	test "$(cat file)" = conflict &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse third)" = "$(git rev-parse second)"
+	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase' '
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase' '
 	git commit -m "new file" &&
 	git tag before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase fast forward' '
 
 	git checkout to-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase . ff &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$(git rev-parse ff)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD ff &&
 
 	# The above only validates the result.  Did we actually bypass rebase?
 	git reflog -1 >reflog.actual &&
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase --autostash fast forward' '
 	git checkout behind &&
 	echo dirty >file &&
 	git pull --rebase --autostash . to-rebase-ff &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$(git rev-parse to-rebase-ff)"
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD to-rebase-ff
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with conflicts shows advice' '
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ test_expect_success 'failed --rebase shows advice' '
 test_expect_success '--rebase fails with multiple branches' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase . copy master 2>err &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$(git rev-parse before-rebase)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD before-rebase &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot rebase onto multiple branches" err &&
 	test modified = "$(git show HEAD:file)"
 '
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
@@ -407,14 +407,14 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase false &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" != "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev ! HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
 	test_i18ngrep "ignoring --verify-signatures for rebase" err
 '
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --no-verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
 	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
 	test_i18ngrep ! "verify-signatures" err
 '
@@ -443,8 +443,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase false &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^1)" = "$(git rev-parse before-preserve-rebase)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=true flattens keep-merge' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=1 is treated as true and flattens keep-merge' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase 1 &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -469,8 +469,8 @@ test_expect_success REBASE_P \
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse keep-merge)"
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 keep-merge
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=interactive' '
@@ -505,8 +505,8 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull --rebase=false . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^1)" = "$(git rev-parse before-preserve-rebase)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=true rebases and flattens keep-merge' '
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase=true . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -523,8 +523,8 @@ test_expect_success REBASE_P \
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull --rebase=preserve . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^2)" = "$(git rev-parse keep-merge)"
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 keep-merge
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase=invalid fails' '
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-m
 	git reset --hard before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
-	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD^^)" = "$(git rev-parse copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
 	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
 '
 
@@ -597,10 +597,10 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase dies early with dirty working directory' '
 	echo dirty >>file &&
 	git add file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull &&
-	test "$COPY" = "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)" &&
+	test_cmp_rev "$COPY" me/copy &&
 	git checkout HEAD -- file &&
 	git pull &&
-	test "$COPY" != "$(git rev-parse --verify me/copy)"
+	test_cmp_rev ! "$COPY" me/copy
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase works on branch yet to be born' '

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 1af6ea06ee..8b7e7ae55d 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -255,7 +255,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase' '
 	git tag before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase fast forward' '
@@ -330,7 +332,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase fails with multiple branches' '
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase . copy master 2>err &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD before-rebase &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot rebase onto multiple branches" err &&
-	test modified = "$(git show HEAD:file)"
+	echo modified >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase succeeds with dirty working directory and rebase.autostash set' '
@@ -381,7 +385,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase' '
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --autostash & pull.rebase=true' '
@@ -399,7 +405,9 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase' '
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
@@ -408,14 +416,18 @@ test_expect_success 'branch.to-rebase.rebase should override pull.rebase' '
 	test_config branch.to-rebase.rebase false &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev ! HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)"
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase warns on --verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
 	test_i18ngrep "ignoring --verify-signatures for rebase" err
 '
 
@@ -423,7 +435,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase does not warn on --no-verify-signatures' '
 	git reset --hard before-rebase &&
 	git pull --rebase --no-verify-signatures . copy 2>err &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test new = "$(git show HEAD:file2)" &&
+	echo new >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file2 >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual &&
 	test_i18ngrep ! "verify-signatures" err
 '
 
@@ -445,7 +459,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=true flattens keep-merge' '
@@ -453,7 +469,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=true flattens keep-merge' '
 	test_config pull.rebase true &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=1 is treated as true and flattens keep-merge' '
@@ -461,7 +479,9 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=1 is treated as true and flattens keep-merge' '
 	test_config pull.rebase 1 &&
 	git pull . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success REBASE_P \
@@ -507,7 +527,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=false create a new merge commit' '
 	git pull --rebase=false . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^1 before-preserve-rebase &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^2 copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase=true rebases and flattens keep-merge' '
@@ -515,7 +537,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase=true rebases and flattens keep-merge' '
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase=true . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success REBASE_P \
@@ -537,7 +561,9 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase overrides pull.rebase=preserve and flattens keep-m
 	test_config pull.rebase preserve &&
 	git pull --rebase . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^^ copy &&
-	test file3 = "$(git show HEAD:file3.t)"
+	echo file3 >expect &&
+	git show HEAD:file3.t >actual &&
+	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
@@ -622,10 +648,16 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase fails on unborn branch with staged changes' '
 		cd empty_repo2 &&
 		echo staged-file >staged-file &&
 		git add staged-file &&
-		test "$(git ls-files)" = staged-file &&
+		echo staged-file >expect &&
+		git ls-files >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase .. master 2>err &&
-		test "$(git ls-files)" = staged-file &&
-		test "$(git show :staged-file)" = staged-file &&
+		echo staged-file >expect &&
+		git ls-files >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
+		echo staged-file >expect &&
+		git show :staged-file >actual &&
+		test_cmp expect actual &&
 		test_i18ngrep "unborn branch with changes added to the index" err
 	)
 '

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 8b7e7ae55d..8ddf89e550 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -668,7 +668,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase fails on corrupt HEAD' '
 	(
 		cd corrupt &&
 		test_commit one &&
-		obj=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD | sed "s#^..#&/#") &&
+		git rev-parse --verify HEAD >head &&
+		obj=$(sed "s#^..#&/#" head) &&
 		rm -f .git/objects/$obj &&
 		test_must_fail git pull --rebase
 	)

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 8ddf89e550..c9e4eec004 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@ test_pull_autostash () {
 	git add new_file &&
 	git pull "$@" . copy &&
 	test_cmp_rev HEAD^ copy &&
-	test "$(cat new_file)" = dirty &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = "modified again"
+	echo dirty >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect new_file &&
+	echo "modified again" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 }
 
 test_pull_autostash_fail () {
@@ -110,9 +112,11 @@ test_expect_success 'test . as a remote' '
 	echo updated >file &&
 	git commit -a -m updated &&
 	git checkout copy &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git pull &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = updated &&
+	echo updated >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git reflog -1 >reflog.actual &&
 	sed "s/^[0-9a-f][0-9a-f]*/OBJID/" reflog.actual >reflog.fuzzy &&
 	echo "OBJID HEAD@{0}: pull: Fast-forward" >reflog.expected &&
@@ -125,9 +129,11 @@ test_expect_success 'the default remote . should not break explicit pull' '
 	git commit -a -m modified &&
 	git checkout copy &&
 	git reset --hard HEAD^ &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git pull . second &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = modified &&
+	echo modified >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git reflog -1 >reflog.actual &&
 	sed "s/^[0-9a-f][0-9a-f]*/OBJID/" reflog.actual >reflog.fuzzy &&
 	echo "OBJID HEAD@{0}: pull . second: Fast-forward" >reflog.expected &&
@@ -137,10 +143,12 @@ test_expect_success 'the default remote . should not break explicit pull' '
 test_expect_success 'fail if wildcard spec does not match any refs' '
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . "refs/nonexisting1/*:refs/nonexisting2/*" 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no candidates for merging" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if no branches specified with non-default remote' '
@@ -148,11 +156,13 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if no branches specified with non-default remote' '
 	test_when_finished "git remote remove test_remote" &&
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote origin &&
 	test_must_fail git pull test_remote 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "specify a branch on the command line" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if not on a branch' '
@@ -160,10 +170,12 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if not on a branch' '
 	test_when_finished "git remote remove origin" &&
 	git checkout HEAD^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "not currently on a branch" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if no configuration for current branch' '
@@ -172,10 +184,12 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if no configuration for current branch' '
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote test_remote &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no tracking information" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --all: fail if no configuration for current branch' '
@@ -184,10 +198,12 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --all: fail if no configuration for current branch' '
 	git checkout -b test copy^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote test_remote &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --all 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "There is no tracking information" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if upstream branch does not exist' '
@@ -195,16 +211,19 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if upstream branch does not exist' '
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D test" &&
 	test_config branch.test.remote . &&
 	test_config branch.test.merge refs/heads/nonexisting &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "no such ref was fetched" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fail if the index has unresolved entries' '
 	git checkout -b third second^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_commit modified2 file &&
 	git ls-files -u >unmerged &&
 	test_must_be_empty unmerged &&
@@ -226,21 +245,25 @@ test_expect_success 'fail if the index has unresolved entries' '
 test_expect_success 'fast-forwards working tree if branch head is updated' '
 	git checkout -b third second^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "fetch updated the current branch head" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = modified &&
+	echo modified >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fast-forward fails with conflicting work tree' '
 	git checkout -b third second^ &&
 	test_when_finished "git checkout -f copy && git branch -D third" &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	echo conflict >file &&
 	test_must_fail git pull . second:third 2>err &&
 	test_i18ngrep "Cannot fast-forward your working tree" err &&
-	test "$(cat file)" = conflict &&
+	echo conflict >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
 	test_cmp_rev third second
 '
 
@@ -501,7 +524,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=interactive' '
 	test_set_editor "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/fake-editor" &&
 	test_when_finished "test_might_fail git rebase --abort" &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase=interactive . copy &&
-	test "I was here" = "$(cat fake.out)"
+	echo "I was here" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect fake.out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull --rebase=i' '
@@ -512,7 +536,8 @@ test_expect_success 'pull --rebase=i' '
 	test_set_editor "$TRASH_DIRECTORY/fake-editor" &&
 	test_when_finished "test_might_fail git rebase --abort" &&
 	test_must_fail git pull --rebase=i . copy &&
-	test "I was here, too" = "$(cat fake.out)"
+	echo "I was here, too" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect fake.out
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pull.rebase=invalid fails' '
@@ -578,16 +603,20 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased upstream' '
 	git commit -m to-rebase file2 &&
 	git tag to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase me copy &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase -f with rebased upstream' '
 	test_when_finished "test_might_fail git rebase --abort" &&
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase -f me copy &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased default upstream' '
@@ -595,8 +624,10 @@ test_expect_success '--rebase with rebased default upstream' '
 	git checkout --track -b to-rebase2 me/copy &&
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
@@ -607,8 +638,10 @@ test_expect_success 'rebased upstream + fetch + pull --rebase' '
 	git reset --hard to-rebase-orig &&
 	git fetch &&
 	git pull --rebase &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 
 '
 
@@ -744,8 +777,10 @@ test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase does not reapply old patches' '
 test_expect_success 'git pull --rebase against local branch' '
 	git checkout -b copy2 to-rebase-orig &&
 	git pull --rebase . to-rebase &&
-	test "conflicting modification" = "$(cat file)" &&
-	test file = "$(cat file2)"
+	echo "conflicting modification" >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file &&
+	echo file >expect &&
+	test_cmp expect file2
 '
 
 test_done