diff --git a/t/t4011-diff-symlink.sh b/t/t4011-diff-symlink.sh
index e3ebf38..8c5b614 100755
--- a/t/t4011-diff-symlink.sh
+++ b/t/t4011-diff-symlink.sh
@@ -56,10 +56,11 @@ cat > expected << EOF
 diff --git a/frotz b/frotz
 EOF
 
+secs="$SECONDS"
+while [ "$SECONDS" = "$secs" ]; do sleep 1; done
 test_expect_success \
     'diff identical, but newly created symlink' \
-    'sleep 1 &&
-    ln -s xyzzy frotz &&
+    'ln -s xyzzy frotz &&
     git-diff-index -M -p $tree > current &&
     compare_diff_patch current expected'