diff --git a/test/ruby/test_basicinstructions.rb b/test/ruby/test_basicinstructions.rb
index 7e57530d72..e93b339377 100644
--- a/test/ruby/test_basicinstructions.rb
+++ b/test/ruby/test_basicinstructions.rb
@@ -85,7 +85,9 @@ class TestBasicInstructions < Test::Unit::TestCase
     s = "OK"
     prev = nil
     3.times do
-      assert_equal prev.object_id, (prev ||= /#{s}/o).object_id  if prev
+      re = /#{s}/o
+      assert_same prev, re if prev
+      prev = re
     end
   end