diff --git a/tests-ng/actions-pre.sh b/tests-ng/actions-pre.sh
index 8a859ac..506ae69 100755
--- a/tests-ng/actions-pre.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/actions-pre.sh
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ echo -e "$(tput setaf 6)==> RUNNING $(basename "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}") <==$(tput sg
 # $2 path
 grep_or_fail()
 {
-  grep "${1}" "${2}" >/dev/null 2>&1 || (echo "pattern not found in ${2}" && exit 1)
+  if ! grep "${1}" "${2}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "pattern not found in ${2}"
+    exit 1
+  fi
 }
 
 # the action temp