diff --git a/tests/test-highlighting.zsh b/tests/test-highlighting.zsh
index 6b8547b..ba508ac 100755
--- a/tests/test-highlighting.zsh
+++ b/tests/test-highlighting.zsh
@@ -186,14 +186,16 @@ run_test_internal() {
   if [[ -n $expected_mismatch ]]; then
     tap_escape $expected_mismatch; expected_mismatch=$REPLY
     print "ok $i - cardinality check" "# SKIP $expected_mismatch"
-  elif (( $#expected_region_highlight == $#region_highlight )); then
-    print -r -- "ok $i - cardinality check"
   else
-    local details
-    details+="have $#expected_region_highlight expectations and $#region_highlight region_highlight entries: "
-    details+="«$(typeset_p expected_region_highlight)» «$(typeset_p region_highlight)»"
-    tap_escape $details; details=$REPLY
-    print -r -- "not ok $i - cardinality check - $details"
+    if (( $#expected_region_highlight == $#region_highlight )); then
+      print -r -- "ok $i - cardinality check"
+    else
+      local details
+      details+="have $#expected_region_highlight expectations and $#region_highlight region_highlight entries: "
+      details+="«$(typeset_p expected_region_highlight)» «$(typeset_p region_highlight)»"
+      tap_escape $details; details=$REPLY
+      print -r -- "not ok $i - cardinality check - $details"
+    fi
   fi
 }