diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/powerpc/ptrace/ptrace-pkey.c b/tools/testing/selftests/powerpc/ptrace/ptrace-pkey.c
index 80dc5085a412..bc454f899124 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/powerpc/ptrace/ptrace-pkey.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/powerpc/ptrace/ptrace-pkey.c
@@ -101,15 +101,20 @@ static int child(struct shared_info *info)
 	 */
 	info->invalid_amr = info->amr2 | (~0x0UL & ~info->expected_uamor);
 
+	/*
+	 * if PKEY_DISABLE_EXECUTE succeeded we should update the expected_iamr
+	 */
 	if (disable_execute)
 		info->expected_iamr |= 1ul << pkeyshift(pkey1);
 	else
 		info->expected_iamr &= ~(1ul << pkeyshift(pkey1));
 
-	info->expected_iamr &= ~(1ul << pkeyshift(pkey2) | 1ul << pkeyshift(pkey3));
+	/*
+	 * We allocated pkey2 and pkey 3 above. Clear the IAMR bits.
+	 */
+	info->expected_iamr &= ~(1ul << pkeyshift(pkey2));
+	info->expected_iamr &= ~(1ul << pkeyshift(pkey3));
 
-	info->expected_uamor |= 3ul << pkeyshift(pkey1) |
-				3ul << pkeyshift(pkey2);
 	/*
 	 * Create an IAMR value different from expected value.
 	 * Kernel will reject an IAMR and UAMOR change.