diff --git a/test/regress.c b/test/regress.c
index 5c8580a3..bb6425b0 100644
--- a/test/regress.c
+++ b/test/regress.c
@@ -472,7 +472,10 @@ test_fork(void)
 
 		event_dispatch();
 
-		exit(test_ok == 0);
+		/* we do not send an EOF; simple_read_cb requires an EOF 
+		 * to set test_ok.  we just verify that the callback was
+		 * called. */
+		exit(test_ok != 0 || called != 2);
 	}
 
 	/* wait for the child to read the data */
@@ -486,7 +489,7 @@ test_fork(void)
 	}
 	
 	if (WEXITSTATUS(status) != 0) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "FAILED\n");
+		fprintf(stderr, "FAILED (exit)\n");
 		exit(1);
 	}