diff --git a/bld/unit_testers/build-namelist_test.pl b/bld/unit_testers/build-namelist_test.pl
index 2147fdea31..3464dfadef 100755
--- a/bld/unit_testers/build-namelist_test.pl
+++ b/bld/unit_testers/build-namelist_test.pl
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ sub cat_and_create_namelistinfile {
 my $ntests = 3278;
 
 if ( defined($opts{'compare'}) ) {
-   $ntests += 2001;
+   $ntests += 1981;
 }
 plan( tests=>$ntests );