diff --git a/package/earlyoom/S02earlyoom b/package/earlyoom/S02earlyoom
index 35624f3c72..ac1734109e 100644
--- a/package/earlyoom/S02earlyoom
+++ b/package/earlyoom/S02earlyoom
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ EARLYOOM_ARGS=""
 [ -r "/etc/default/$DAEMON" ] && . "/etc/default/$DAEMON"
 
 start() {
-	printf() 'Starting %s: ' "$DAEMON"
+	printf 'Starting %s: ' "$DAEMON"
 	start-stop-daemon -b -m -S -q -p "$PIDFILE" -x "/usr/bin/$DAEMON" \
 	       -- $EARLYOOM_ARGS
 	status=$?