diff --git a/git-am.sh b/git-am.sh
index ae2fe5651c5..cf3d4a74159 100755
--- a/git-am.sh
+++ b/git-am.sh
@@ -501,7 +501,7 @@ do
 	fi
 	if test $apply_status != 0
 	then
-		echo "Patch failed at $msgnum $FIRSTLINE"
+		printf 'Patch failed at %s %s\n' "$msgnum" "$FIRSTLINE"
 		stop_here_user_resolve $this
 	fi