diff --git a/test/unit/core.js b/test/unit/core.js
index dbf23e7d3..71b124637 100644
--- a/test/unit/core.js
+++ b/test/unit/core.js
@@ -1576,14 +1576,17 @@ test("empty()", function() {
 
 test("slice()", function() {
 	expect(6);
-	isSet( jQuery("#ap a").slice(1,2), q("groups"), "slice(1,2)" );
-	isSet( jQuery("#ap a").slice(1), q("groups", "anchor1", "mark"), "slice(1)" );
-	isSet( jQuery("#ap a").slice(0,3), q("google", "groups", "anchor1"), "slice(0,3)" );
-	isSet( jQuery("#ap a").slice(-1), q("mark"), "slice(-1)" );
-
-	isSet( jQuery("#ap a").eq(1), q("groups"), "eq(1)" );
 	
-	isSet( jQuery("#ap a").eq('1'), q("groups"), "eq('1')" );
+	var $links = jQuery("#ap a");
+	
+	isSet( $links.slice(1,2), q("groups"), "slice(1,2)" );
+	isSet( $links.slice(1), q("groups", "anchor1", "mark"), "slice(1)" );
+	isSet( $links.slice(0,3), q("google", "groups", "anchor1"), "slice(0,3)" );
+	isSet( $links.slice(-1), q("mark"), "slice(-1)" );
+
+	isSet( $links.eq(1), q("groups"), "eq(1)" );
+	
+	isSet( $links.eq('2'), q("anchor1"), "eq('2')" );
 });
 
 test("map()", function() {