diff --git a/tests/test_apt.sh b/tests/test_apt.sh
index 8c3d15820692dba27d91be53f1cb82914baefe83..b12a436fa6b87b8f8d5ed6620ab144ea64fb119d 100755
--- a/tests/test_apt.sh
+++ b/tests/test_apt.sh
@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@ echo "Testing apt-get install."
 lock_timeout=120
 lock_counter=0
 tput sc
+set +e
 while fuser /var/lib/dpkg/lock >/dev/null 2>&1 ; do
-    sleep 1 && echo $lock_counter && (( lock_counter++ ))
+    sleep 1 && echo -n $lock_counter && (( lock_counter++ ))
     tput rc
     if (( $lock_counter > $lock_timeout )); then
         echo "APT is reported as locked for more than $lock_timeout seconds now..."
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ while fuser /var/lib/dpkg/lock >/dev/null 2>&1 ; do
         exit 1
     fi
 done
+set -e
 
 echo "Clean repository."
 apt-get clean