diff --git a/tests/json/t-json.c b/tests/json/t-json.c
index 1f45febd..7a4d9065 100644
--- a/tests/json/t-json.c
+++ b/tests/json/t-json.c
@@ -154,7 +154,19 @@ test_contains (cjson_t needle, cjson_t hay)
         }
       if (test_contains (needle->child, hay->child))
         {
-          return 1;
+          int found = 0;
+          for (cjson_t hit = hay->child; hit; hit = hit->next)
+            {
+              found |= !test_contains (needle->child, hit);
+              if (found)
+                {
+                  break;
+                }
+            }
+          if (!found)
+            {
+              return 1;
+            }
         }
     }