diff --git a/src/tests/hook.format-countdown.t b/src/tests/hook.format-countdown.t
index 8d0f23ee5..966ec608f 100755
--- a/src/tests/hook.format-countdown.t
+++ b/src/tests/hook.format-countdown.t
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ if ($output =~ /PUC-Rio/)
   qx{../task rc:hook.rc add foo due:eom};
   $output = qx{../task rc:hook.rc long};
 
-  like ($output, qr/<(?:- )?\d+.+>/, 'format-countdown hook countdown -> <countdown>');
+  like ($output, qr/<-?\d+\s\D+>/, 'format-countdown hook countdown -> <countdown>');
 }
 else
 {
diff --git a/src/tests/hook.format-countdown_compact.t b/src/tests/hook.format-countdown_compact.t
index 1820d378c..99dd05823 100755
--- a/src/tests/hook.format-countdown_compact.t
+++ b/src/tests/hook.format-countdown_compact.t
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ if ($output =~ /PUC-Rio/)
   qx{../task rc:hook.rc add foo due:eom};
   $output = qx{../task rc:hook.rc long};
 
-  like ($output, qr/<(?:- )?\d+.+>/, 'format-countdown_compact hook countdown_compact -> <countdown_compact>');
+  like ($output, qr/<-?\d+\D+>/, 'format-countdown_compact hook countdown_compact -> <countdown_compact>');
 }
 else
 {