diff --git a/src/freedombone-pass b/src/freedombone-pass
index 55fc66bd..478d66af 100755
--- a/src/freedombone-pass
+++ b/src/freedombone-pass
@@ -96,8 +96,8 @@ function pad_string {
     total_padding=$((128 - str_length))
     leading_padding=$((1 + RANDOM % $total_padding))
     trailing_padding=$((total_padding - leading_padding))
-    leading=printf "%-${leading_padding}s"
-    trailing=printf "%-${trailing_padding}s"
+    leading=$(printf "%-${leading_padding}s")
+    trailing=$(printf "%-${trailing_padding}s")
     echo "${leading}${pass_string}${trailing}"
 }