diff --git a/t/t2011-checkout-invalid-head.sh b/t/t2011-checkout-invalid-head.sh
index 3c8135831b..04f53b1ea1 100755
--- a/t/t2011-checkout-invalid-head.sh
+++ b/t/t2011-checkout-invalid-head.sh
@@ -29,36 +29,33 @@ test_expect_success REFFILES 'checkout notices failure to lock HEAD' '
 	test_must_fail git checkout -b other
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'create ref directory/file conflict scenario' '
+test_expect_success 'create ref directory/file conflict scenario' '
 	git update-ref refs/heads/outer/inner main &&
-
-	# do not rely on symbolic-ref to get a known state,
-	# as it may use the same code we are testing
 	reset_to_df () {
-		echo "ref: refs/heads/outer" >.git/HEAD
+		git symbolic-ref HEAD refs/heads/outer
 	}
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'checkout away from d/f HEAD (unpacked, to branch)' '
+test_expect_success 'checkout away from d/f HEAD (unpacked, to branch)' '
 	reset_to_df &&
 	git checkout main
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'checkout away from d/f HEAD (unpacked, to detached)' '
+test_expect_success 'checkout away from d/f HEAD (unpacked, to detached)' '
 	reset_to_df &&
 	git checkout --detach main
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'pack refs' '
+test_expect_success 'pack refs' '
 	git pack-refs --all --prune
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'checkout away from d/f HEAD (packed, to branch)' '
+test_expect_success 'checkout away from d/f HEAD (packed, to branch)' '
 	reset_to_df &&
 	git checkout main
 '
 
-test_expect_success REFFILES 'checkout away from d/f HEAD (packed, to detached)' '
+test_expect_success 'checkout away from d/f HEAD (packed, to detached)' '
 	reset_to_df &&
 	git checkout --detach main
 '