diff --git a/acceptance/bundle/variables/var_file_overrides/output.txt b/acceptance/bundle/variables/var_file_overrides/output.txt
index fffaee517..c2c73dff9 100644
--- a/acceptance/bundle/variables/var_file_overrides/output.txt
+++ b/acceptance/bundle/variables/var_file_overrides/output.txt
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Exit code: 1
 }
 
 >>> errcode $CLI bundle validate -o json --var-file=var_files/not_found.json
-Error: failed to read variables file: open var_files/not_found.json: no such file or directory
+Error: failed to read variables file: open var_files/not_found.json:<stripped>
 
 
 Exit code: 1
diff --git a/acceptance/bundle/variables/var_file_overrides/script b/acceptance/bundle/variables/var_file_overrides/script
index 242df8e58..981d1694f 100644
--- a/acceptance/bundle/variables/var_file_overrides/script
+++ b/acceptance/bundle/variables/var_file_overrides/script
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ trace $CLI bundle validate -o json --var="cluster_key=mlops_stacks-cluster" | jq
 trace errcode $CLI bundle validate -o json --var-file=var_files/normal.json --var="cluster_key=mlops_stacks-cluster" | jq $cluster_expr
 
 # file not found
-trace errcode $CLI bundle validate -o json --var-file=var_files/not_found.json | jq $cluster_expr
+trace errcode $CLI bundle validate -o json --var-file=var_files/not_found.json 2> >(sed 's/\(Error: failed to read variables file: open var_files\/not_found.json:\).*/\1<stripped>/' >&2) | jq $cluster_expr
 
 # file cannot be parsed
 trace errcode $CLI bundle validate -o json --var-file=var_files/invalid_json.json | jq $cluster_expr