$t->prompt('/TERM\s/=\s/(hp/)\s/'); 

##</code><code>##

$t->prompt('/TERM\s=\s\(hp\)\s/');

##</code><code>##

use strict;
use warnings;

my $actualPrompt = 'TERM = (hp) ';
while (<DATA>){
  chomp;
  $actualPrompt =~ /$_/ ? print "$_\tMatches\n" : print "$_\tDoes not match\n";
};
__DATA__
TERM\s/=\s/(hp/)\s
TERM\s=\s\(hp\)\s

##</code><code>##

TERM\s/=\s/(hp/)\s      Does not match
TERM\s=\s\(hp\)\s       Matches