diff --git a/tests/run-tests.py b/tests/run-tests.py
--- a/tests/run-tests.py
+++ b/tests/run-tests.py
@@ -1138,14 +1138,13 @@ class TTest(Test):
                     elif warnonly == 1: # Is "not yet" and line is warn only.
                         warnonly = 2 # Yes do warn.
                 break
-
-            # clean up any optional leftovers
-            while expected.get(pos, None):
-                el = expected[pos].pop(0)
-                if not el.endswith(b" (?)\n"):
-                    expected[pos].insert(0, el)
-                    break
-                postout.append(b'  ' + el)
+            else:
+                # clean up any optional leftovers
+                while expected.get(pos, None):
+                    el = expected[pos].pop(0)
+                    if el and not el.endswith(b" (?)\n"):
+                        break
+                    postout.append(b'  ' + el)
 
             if lcmd:
                 # Add on last return code.
diff --git a/tests/test-run-tests.t b/tests/test-run-tests.t
--- a/tests/test-run-tests.t
+++ b/tests/test-run-tests.t
@@ -52,6 +52,12 @@ a succesful test
   >   never happens (?)
   >   xyzzy
   >   nor this (?)
+  >   $ printf 'abc\ndef\nxyz\n'
+  >   123 (?)
+  >   abc
+  >   def (?)
+  >   456 (?)
+  >   xyz
   > EOF
 
   $ rt
@@ -286,6 +292,12 @@ Running In Debug Mode
   xyzzy
   + echo *SALT* 6 0 (glob)
   *SALT* 6 0 (glob)
+  + printf *abc\ndef\nxyz\n* (glob)
+  abc
+  def
+  xyz
+  + echo *SALT* 12 0 (glob)
+  *SALT* 12 0 (glob)
   .
   # Ran 2 tests, 0 skipped, 0 warned, 0 failed.