diff --git a/testsuite/cmp/cmp-detects-difference b/testsuite/cmp/cmp-detects-difference
index b5544f9a8..aa0744487 100644
--- a/testsuite/cmp/cmp-detects-difference
+++ b/testsuite/cmp/cmp-detects-difference
@@ -1,7 +1,3 @@
 echo foo >foo
 echo bar >bar
-if busybox cmp -s foo bar; then
-	return 1
-else
-	return 0
-fi
+! busybox cmp -s foo bar
diff --git a/testsuite/false/false-returns-failure b/testsuite/false/false-returns-failure
index 30ee2997f..1a061f286 100644
--- a/testsuite/false/false-returns-failure
+++ b/testsuite/false/false-returns-failure
@@ -1,5 +1 @@
-if busybox false; then
-	return 1
-else
-	return 0
-fi
+! busybox false
diff --git a/testsuite/tar/tar-demands-at-least-one-ctx b/testsuite/tar/tar-demands-at-least-one-ctx
index 3ac58e89e..85e7f6059 100644
--- a/testsuite/tar/tar-demands-at-least-one-ctx
+++ b/testsuite/tar/tar-demands-at-least-one-ctx
@@ -1,5 +1 @@
-if busybox tar v; then
-	return 1
-else
-	return 0
-fi
+! busybox tar v
diff --git a/testsuite/tar/tar-demands-at-most-one-ctx b/testsuite/tar/tar-demands-at-most-one-ctx
index be2168135..130d0e7f9 100644
--- a/testsuite/tar/tar-demands-at-most-one-ctx
+++ b/testsuite/tar/tar-demands-at-most-one-ctx
@@ -1,5 +1 @@
-if busybox tar tx; then
-	return 1
-else
-	return 0
-fi
+! busybox tar tx