diff --git a/src/freedombone-utils-database b/src/freedombone-utils-database
index dc95a406..6b1d9ba4 100755
--- a/src/freedombone-utils-database
+++ b/src/freedombone-utils-database
@@ -115,7 +115,8 @@ function get_mariadb_password {
     if [ -f $DATABASE_PASSWORD_FILE ]; then
         MARIADB_PASSWORD=$(cat $DATABASE_PASSWORD_FILE)
         ${PROJECT_NAME}-pass -u root -a mariadb -p "$MARIADB_PASSWORD"
-        if [[ "$(${PROJECT_NAME}-pass -u root -a mariadb)" == "$MARIADB_PASSWORD" ]]; then
+        stored_password=$(${PROJECT_NAME}-pass -u root -a mariadb)
+        if [[ "$stored_password" == "$MARIADB_PASSWORD" ]]; then
             shred -zu $DATABASE_PASSWORD_FILE
             echo $'MariaDB password moved into password store'
             return