diff --git a/tests/futility/run_test_scripts.sh b/tests/futility/run_test_scripts.sh
index 2ec7abb..f224bdf 100755
--- a/tests/futility/run_test_scripts.sh
+++ b/tests/futility/run_test_scripts.sh
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
     : $(( pass++ ))
     rm -f ${OUTDIR}/$j.{stdout,stderr,return}
   else
-    echo -e "${COL_RED}FAILED. Stdout is recorded in" \
+    echo -e "${COL_RED}FAILED (${rc:-0}). Stdout is recorded in" \
       "${OUTDIR}/$j.stdout${COL_STOP}"
     cat ${OUTDIR}/$j.stderr
   fi
diff --git a/tests/futility/test_update.sh b/tests/futility/test_update.sh
index 902ad94..002f105 100755
--- a/tests/futility/test_update.sh
+++ b/tests/futility/test_update.sh
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@
 	echo "*** Test Item: ${test_name}"
 	if [ "${error_msg}" != "${expected}" ] && [ -n "${error_msg}" ]; then
 		msg="$(! "${FUTILITY}" update --emulate "${TMP}.emu" "$@" 2>&1)"
-		echo "${msg}" | grep -qF -- "${error_msg}"
+		grep -qF -- "${error_msg}" <<<"${msg}"
 	else
 		"${FUTILITY}" update --emulate "${TMP}.emu" "$@"
 		cmp "${TMP}.emu" "${expected}"