diff --git a/tests/tools.at b/tests/tools.at
index 77d9c1e6..48cdd924 100644
--- a/tests/tools.at
+++ b/tests/tools.at
@@ -98,10 +98,20 @@ AT_CHECK_M4SUGAR
 # We moved a file: it should fail
 mkdir sub
 mv foo sub
-AT_CHECK_M4SUGAR([], [1], [],
+case `$M4 no/such/file 2>&1` in
+  *\`no/such/file*)
+    AT_CHECK_M4SUGAR([], [1], [],
 [m4:script.4s:1: cannot open `foo': No such file or directory
 autom4te: error: m4 failed with exit status: 1
 ])
+    ;;
+  *)
+    AT_CHECK_M4SUGAR([], [1], [],
+[m4:script.4s:1: cannot open 'foo': No such file or directory
+autom4te: error: m4 failed with exit status: 1
+])
+    ;;
+esac
 
 # But if we change the main file, then we should no longer complain of
 # missing files.