diff --git a/govc/test/library.bats b/govc/test/library.bats
index 8b761c8ed..24b2a21fb 100755
--- a/govc/test/library.bats
+++ b/govc/test/library.bats
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ EOF
   govc library.subscriber.ls govc-pub-vmtx | grep govc-sub-vmtx-$ds2
 
   # Expect 1 VM: govc-pub-vmtx/ttylinux-pc_i486-16.1
-  govc find vm -type f -name govc-* | xargs -n1 -r govc find -type m
+  govc find vm -type f -name govc-* | $xargs -n1 -r govc find -type m
 
   # Publish entire library
   govc library.publish govc-pub-vmtx
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ EOF
   govc library.publish govc-pub-vmtx/ttylinux-pc_i486-16.1
 
   # Expect 2 more VMs: govc-sub-vmtx-{$ds1,$ds2}
-  govc find vm -type f -name govc-* | xargs -n1 govc find -type m
+  govc find vm -type f -name govc-* | $xargs -n1 govc find -type m
 
   for ds in $ds1 $ds2 ; do
     govc vm.clone -link -vm govc-sub-vmtx-$ds/ttylinux-pc_i486-16.1 -ds $ds -pool $pool -folder govc-sub-vmtx-$ds ttylinux
diff --git a/govc/test/network.bats b/govc/test/network.bats
index a5155dd45..367255f13 100755
--- a/govc/test/network.bats
+++ b/govc/test/network.bats
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ load test_helper
 
   # validate each NIC has a unique MAC
   macs=$(govc device.info -vm "$vm" -json ethernet-* | jq -r .Devices[].MacAddress | uniq | wc -l)
-  [ "$macs" = "2" ]
+  assert_equal 2 "$macs"
 }
 
 @test "network flag required" {
diff --git a/govc/test/test_helper.bash b/govc/test/test_helper.bash
index 371c1819f..843c6d574 100644
--- a/govc/test/test_helper.bash
+++ b/govc/test/test_helper.bash
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ assert_failure() {
 }
 
 assert_equal() {
-  if [ "$1" != "$2" ]; then
+  if [ "$(collapse_ws "$1")" != "$(collapse_ws "$2")" ]; then
     { echo "expected: $1"
       echo "actual:   $2"
     } | flunk
diff --git a/govc/test/vcsim.bats b/govc/test/vcsim.bats
index 315a05dd9..05cb3ca9d 100755
--- a/govc/test/vcsim.bats
+++ b/govc/test/vcsim.bats
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ load test_helper
   run govc object.collect -s -type h host/DC0_H0 summary.config.port
   assert_success "$port"
   ports=$(govc object.collect -s -type h / summary.config.port | uniq -u | wc -l)
-  [ "$ports" = "0" ] # all host ports should be the same value
+  assert_equal 0 "$ports" # all host ports should be the same value
 
   vcsim_stop
 
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ load test_helper
 
   hosts=$(curl -sk "https://$url/debug/vars" | jq .vcsim.Model.Host)
   ports=$(govc object.collect -s -type h / summary.config.port | uniq -u | wc -l)
-  [ "$ports" = "$hosts" ] # all host ports should be unique
-  [[ "$ports" != *$port* ]] # host ports should not include vcsim port
+  assert_equal "$ports" "$hosts" # all host ports should be unique
+  grep -v "$port" <<<"$ports" # host ports should not include vcsim port
 }
 
 @test "vcsim set vm properties" {
@@ -171,13 +171,13 @@ EOF
   assert_success "$(printf "265104de-1472-547c-b873-6dc7883fb6cb\nb4689bed-97f0-5bcd-8a4c-07477cc8f06f")"
 
   dups=$(govc object.collect -s -type m / config.uuid | sort | uniq -d | wc -l)
-  [ "$dups" = "0" ]
+  assert_equal 0 "$dups"
 
   run govc object.collect -s host/DC0_H0/DC0_H0 summary.hardware.uuid
   assert_success dcf7fb3c-4a1c-5a05-b730-5e09f3704e2f
 
   dups=$(govc object.collect -s -type m / summary.hardware.uuid | sort | uniq -d | wc -l)
-  [ "$dups" = "0" ]
+  assert_equal 0 "$dups"
 
   run govc vm.create foo.yakity
   assert_success
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ docker_name() {
   assert_success
 
   ip=$(govc object.collect -s vm/$vm guest.ipAddress)
-  run curl -f "http://$ip/vcsim.bats"
+  run docker run --rm curlimages/curl curl -f "http://$ip/vcsim.bats"
   assert_success
 
   # test suspend/resume