diff --git a/mysql-test/t/mysql.test b/mysql-test/t/mysql.test
index 3d022eb27e4..829be665e09 100644
--- a/mysql-test/t/mysql.test
+++ b/mysql-test/t/mysql.test
@@ -145,21 +145,24 @@ drop table t1;
 #
 # Bug #19216: Client crashes on long SELECT
 #
---exec echo "select" > $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/b19216.tmp
-# 3400 * 20 makes 68000 columns that is more than the max number that can fit 
-# in a 16 bit number.
-let $i= 3400;
-while ($i)
-{
-  --exec echo "'a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a'," >> $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/b19216.tmp
-  dec $i;
-}
+# Create large SELECT
+# - 3400 * 20 makes 68000 columns that is more than the
+#   max number that can fit in a 16 bit number.
+
+--perl
+open(FILE,">","$ENV{'MYSQLTEST_VARDIR'}/tmp/b19216.tmp") or die;
+print FILE "select\n";
+print FILE "'a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a','a',\n" x 3400;
+print FILE "'b';\n";
+close FILE;
+EOF
 
---exec echo "'b';" >> $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/b19216.tmp
 --disable_query_log
 --exec $MYSQL < $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/b19216.tmp >/dev/null
 --enable_query_log
 
+--remove_file $MYSQLTEST_VARDIR/tmp/b19216.tmp
+
 #
 # Bug #20103: Escaping with backslash does not work
 #