diff --git a/t/t0012-help.sh b/t/t0012-help.sh
index 1d273d91c2..9c7ae9fd36 100755
--- a/t/t0012-help.sh
+++ b/t/t0012-help.sh
@@ -255,9 +255,16 @@ do
 		(
 			GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=$(pwd) &&
 			export GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES &&
-			test_expect_code 129 git -C sub $builtin -h >output 2>&1
+			test_expect_code 129 git -C sub $builtin -h >output 2>err
 		) &&
-		test_grep usage output
+		if test -n "$GIT_TEST_HELP_MUST_BE_STDOUT"
+		then
+			test_must_be_empty err &&
+			test_grep usage output
+		else
+			test_grep usage output ||
+			test_grep usage err
+		fi
 	'
 done <builtins