diff --git a/src/test/modules/test_shmem/t/001_late_shmem_alloc.pl b/src/test/modules/test_shmem/t/001_late_shmem_alloc.pl
index 0e14e7b15d0..7f252af9987 100644
--- a/src/test/modules/test_shmem/t/001_late_shmem_alloc.pl
+++ b/src/test/modules/test_shmem/t/001_late_shmem_alloc.pl
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ SELECT test_shmem_register('test_shmem after startup', -1, 3);
 			'-c' => 'test_shmem.area_size=-1',
 			'postgres'
 		],
-		'<' => \$queries,
+		'<' => \'',
 		'2>' => \$startup_stderr);
 	ok(!$result,
 		"unknown-size request during single-user startup is rejected");