diff --git a/scripts/runtests.sh b/scripts/runtests.sh
index ea119913..53786239 100755
--- a/scripts/runtests.sh
+++ b/scripts/runtests.sh
@@ -89,8 +89,9 @@ validate () {
                 echo "user not assigned with the expected group sudo"
                 exit 1
             fi
-            lang="$(grep -Eo 'LANG="([^.@ _]+)' .subiquity/etc/default/locale | cut -d \" -f 2)"
-            if [ -z "$( ls .subiquity/var/cache/apt/archives/) | grep $lang" ] ; then
+            # Extract value of the LANG variable from etc/default/locale (with or without quotes)
+            lang="$(grep -Eo 'LANG=([^.@ _]+)' .subiquity/etc/default/locale | cut -d= -f 2- | cut -d\" -f 2-)"
+            if ! ls .subiquity/var/cache/apt/archives/ | grep --fixed-strings --quiet -- "$lang"; then
                 echo "expected $lang language packs in directory var/cache/apt/archives/"
                 exit 1
             fi