diff --git a/bin/tests/system/dlzexternal/tests.sh b/bin/tests/system/dlzexternal/tests.sh
index 019e37d309..cf31d378a7 100644
--- a/bin/tests/system/dlzexternal/tests.sh
+++ b/bin/tests/system/dlzexternal/tests.sh
@@ -25,8 +25,9 @@ EOF
 	return 1
     }
 
-    out="$($DIG $DIGOPTS -t $type -q $host | egrep ^$host)"
-    [ $(echo "$out" | grep "$digout" | wc -l) -eq 1 ] || {
+    out=`$DIG $DIGOPTS -t $type -q $host | egrep ^$host`
+    lines=`echo "$out" | grep "$digout" | wc -l`
+    [ $lines -eq 1 ] || {
 	echo "I:dig output incorrect for $host $type $cmd: $out"
 	return 1
     }
diff --git a/bin/tests/system/tsiggss/tests.sh b/bin/tests/system/tsiggss/tests.sh
index 1f37578e7a..a571c68742 100644
--- a/bin/tests/system/tsiggss/tests.sh
+++ b/bin/tests/system/tsiggss/tests.sh
@@ -28,8 +28,9 @@ EOF
 	return 1
     }
 
-    out="$($DIG $DIGOPTS -t $type -q $host | egrep ^$host)"
-    [ $(echo "$out" | grep "$digout" | wc -l) -eq 1 ] || {
+    out=`$DIG $DIGOPTS -t $type -q $host | egrep ^$host`
+    lines=`echo "$out" | grep "$digout" | wc -l`
+    [ $lines -eq 1 ] || {
 	echo "I:dig output incorrect for $host $type $cmd: $out"
 	return 1
     }
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ EOF
 }
 
 echo "I:testing updates as administrator"
-KRB5CCNAME=$(pwd)/ns1/administrator.ccache
+KRB5CCNAME=`pwd`/ns1/administrator.ccache
 export KRB5CCNAME
 
 test_update testdc1.example.nil. A "86400 A 10.53.0.10" "10.53.0.10" || status=1
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ test_update testdc2.example.nil. A "86400 A 10.53.0.11" "10.53.0.11" || status=1
 test_update denied.example.nil. TXT "86400 TXT helloworld" "helloworld" && status=1
 
 echo "I:testing updates as a user"
-KRB5CCNAME=$(pwd)/ns1/testdenied.ccache
+KRB5CCNAME=`pwd`/ns1/testdenied.ccache
 export KRB5CCNAME
 
 test_update testdenied.example.nil. A "86400 A 10.53.0.12" "10.53.0.12" && status=1