diff --git a/t/t9200-git-cvsexportcommit.sh b/t/t9200-git-cvsexportcommit.sh
index a44eabf0d8..14cbe96527 100755
--- a/t/t9200-git-cvsexportcommit.sh
+++ b/t/t9200-git-cvsexportcommit.sh
@@ -30,13 +30,17 @@ export CVSROOT CVSWORK GIT_DIR
 
 rm -rf "$CVSROOT" "$CVSWORK"
 
-cvs init &&
-test -d "$CVSROOT" &&
-cvs -Q co -d "$CVSWORK" . &&
-echo >empty &&
-git add empty &&
-git commit -q -a -m "Initial" 2>/dev/null ||
-exit 1
+if ! cvs init || ! test -d "$CVSROOT" || ! cvs -Q co -d "$CVSWORK" .
+then
+	skip_all="cvs repository set-up fails"
+	test_done
+fi
+
+test_expect_success 'git setup' '
+	echo >empty &&
+	git add empty &&
+	git commit -q -a -m Initial
+'
 
 check_entries () {
 	# $1 == directory, $2 == expected
@@ -303,7 +307,7 @@ test_expect_success 're-commit a removed filename which remains in CVS attic' '
 	git commit -m "Added attic_gremlin" &&
 	git cvsexportcommit -w "$CVSWORK" -c HEAD &&
 	(cd "$CVSWORK" && cvs -Q update -d) &&
-	test -f "$CVSWORK/attic_gremlin"
+	test_path_is_file "$CVSWORK/attic_gremlin"
 '
 
 # the state of the CVS sandbox may be indeterminate for ' space'