diff --git a/tests/test-highlighting.zsh b/tests/test-highlighting.zsh
index e232b3f..9c771ad 100755
--- a/tests/test-highlighting.zsh
+++ b/tests/test-highlighting.zsh
@@ -110,7 +110,8 @@ run_test_internal() {
     [[ -n "$highlight_zone[4]" ]] && todo=" # TODO $highlight_zone[4]"
     for j in {$highlight_zone[1]..$highlight_zone[2]}; do
       if [[ "$observed_result[$j]" != "$highlight_zone[3]" ]]; then
-        echo "not ok $i ${(qqq)BUFFER[$highlight_zone[1],$highlight_zone[2]]} [$highlight_zone[1],$highlight_zone[2]]: expected ${(qqq)highlight_zone[3]}, observed ${(qqq)observed_result[$j]}.$todo"
+        # Escape # as ♯ since the former is illegal in the 'description' part of TAP output
+        echo "not ok $i ${(qqq)BUFFER[$highlight_zone[1],$highlight_zone[2]]//'#'/♯} [$highlight_zone[1],$highlight_zone[2]]: expected ${(qqq)highlight_zone[3]}, observed ${(qqq)observed_result[$j]}.$todo"
         continue 2
       fi
     done