diff --git a/t/t3032-merge-recursive-options.sh b/t/t3032-merge-recursive-options.sh
index 5fd7bbb652..4029c9c8c0 100755
--- a/t/t3032-merge-recursive-options.sh
+++ b/t/t3032-merge-recursive-options.sh
@@ -14,7 +14,11 @@ test_description='merge-recursive options
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 test_have_prereq SED_STRIPS_CR && SED_OPTIONS=-b
-test_have_prereq GREP_STRIPS_CR && export GREP_OPTIONS=-U
+if test_have_prereq GREP_STRIPS_CR
+then
+	GREP_OPTIONS=-U
+	export GREP_OPTIONS
+fi
 
 test_expect_success 'setup' '
 	conflict_hunks () {
diff --git a/t/t5560-http-backend-noserver.sh b/t/t5560-http-backend-noserver.sh
index 9be9ae3436..1e25128ad3 100755
--- a/t/t5560-http-backend-noserver.sh
+++ b/t/t5560-http-backend-noserver.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,11 @@ test_description='test git-http-backend-noserver'
 
 HTTPD_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH="$TRASH_DIRECTORY"
 
-test_have_prereq GREP_STRIPS_CR && export GREP_OPTIONS=-U
+if test_have_prereq GREP_STRIPS_CR
+then
+	GREP_OPTIONS=-U
+	export GREP_OPTIONS
+fi
 
 run_backend() {
 	echo "$2" |