diff --git a/test/encoding b/test/encoding
index 98abf77f..2e1326eb 100755
--- a/test/encoding
+++ b/test/encoding
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ output=$(notmuch show id:${gen_msg_id} 2>&1 | notmuch_show_sanitize)
 test_expect_equal "$output" "message{ id:msg-001@notmuch-test-suite depth:0 match:1 excluded:0 filename:/XXX/mail/msg-001
 header{
 Notmuch Test Suite <test_suite@notmuchmail.org> (2001-01-05) (inbox unread)
-Subject: Test message #1
+Subject: Message with text of unknown charset
 From: Notmuch Test Suite <test_suite@notmuchmail.org>
 To: Notmuch Test Suite <test_suite@notmuchmail.org>
 Date: Fri, 05 Jan 2001 15:43:57 +0000
diff --git a/test/search-folder-coherence b/test/search-folder-coherence
index f8119cbb..3f6ec763 100755
--- a/test/search-folder-coherence
+++ b/test/search-folder-coherence
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ test_expect_equal_file OUTPUT EXPECTED
 
 test_begin_subtest "Test matches folder:spam"
 output=$(notmuch search folder:spam)
-test_expect_equal "$output" "thread:0000000000000001   2001-01-05 [1/1] Notmuch Test Suite; Test message #1 (inbox unread)"
+test_expect_equal "$output" "thread:0000000000000001   2001-01-05 [1/1] Notmuch Test Suite; Single new message (inbox unread)"
 
 test_begin_subtest "Remove folder:spam copy of email"
 rm $dir/spam/$(basename $file_x)
diff --git a/test/test-lib.sh b/test/test-lib.sh
index 27815067..06aaea27 100644
--- a/test/test-lib.sh
+++ b/test/test-lib.sh
@@ -318,7 +318,11 @@ generate_message ()
     fi
 
     if [ -z "${template[subject]}" ]; then
-	template[subject]="Test message #${gen_msg_cnt}"
+	if [ -n "$test_subtest_name" ]; then
+	    template[subject]="$test_subtest_name"
+	else
+	    template[subject]="Test message #${gen_msg_cnt}"
+	fi
     fi
 
     if [ -z "${template[date]}" ]; then