diff --git a/test/units/testsuite-04.sh b/test/units/testsuite-04.sh
index 3cde55cacb7..3bf7577a0e9 100755
--- a/test/units/testsuite-04.sh
+++ b/test/units/testsuite-04.sh
@@ -269,10 +269,10 @@ fi
 # Check that the seqnum field at least superficially works
 systemd-cat echo "ya"
 journalctl --sync
-SEQNUM1=$(journalctl -o export -n 1 | grep -a __SEQNUM= | cut -d= -f2)
+SEQNUM1=$(journalctl -o export -n 1 | grep -Ea "^__SEQNUM=" | cut -d= -f2)
 systemd-cat echo "yo"
 journalctl --sync
-SEQNUM2=$(journalctl -o export -n 1 | grep -a __SEQNUM= | cut -d= -f2)
+SEQNUM2=$(journalctl -o export -n 1 | grep -Ea "^__SEQNUM=" | cut -d= -f2)
 test "$SEQNUM2" -gt "$SEQNUM1"
 
 touch /testok