diff --git a/contrib/check-code.py b/contrib/check-code.py
--- a/contrib/check-code.py
+++ b/contrib/check-code.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ testpats = [
     (r'\$PWD', "don't use $PWD, use `pwd`"),
     (r'[^\n]\Z', "no trailing newline"),
     (r'export.*=', "don't export and assign at once"),
-    (r'^([^"\'\n]|("[^"\n]*")|(\'[^\'\n]*\'))*\\^', "^ must be quoted"),
+    (r'^([^"\'\n]|("[^"\n]*")|(\'[^\'\n]*\'))*\^', "^ must be quoted"),
     (r'^source\b', "don't use 'source', use '.'"),
     (r'touch -d', "don't use 'touch -d', use 'touch -t' instead"),
     (r'ls +[^|\n-]+ +-', "options to 'ls' must come before filenames"),
diff --git a/tests/test-commit-amend.t b/tests/test-commit-amend.t
--- a/tests/test-commit-amend.t
+++ b/tests/test-commit-amend.t
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ Follow copies/renames:
   $ hg mv c d
   $ hg ci --amend -m 'b -> d'
   saved backup bundle to $TESTTMP/.hg/strip-backup/9c207120aa98-amend-backup.hg
-  $ hg st --rev .^ --copies d
+  $ hg st --rev '.^' --copies d
   A d
     b
   $ hg cp d e
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ Follow copies/renames:
   $ hg cp e f
   $ hg ci --amend -m 'f = d'
   saved backup bundle to $TESTTMP/.hg/strip-backup/fda2b3b27b22-amend-backup.hg
-  $ hg st --rev .^ --copies f
+  $ hg st --rev '.^' --copies f
   A f
     d