diff --git a/sh/supervise-daemon.sh b/sh/supervise-daemon.sh
index 8d2d6faf..8eb98a17 100644
--- a/sh/supervise-daemon.sh
+++ b/sh/supervise-daemon.sh
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ supervise_start()
 		${no_new_privs:+--no_new_privs} \
 		${command_user+--user} $command_user \
 		${umask+--umask} $umask \
-		${supervise_daemon_args:-${start_stop_daemon_args}} \
+		${supervise_daemon_args-${start_stop_daemon_args}} \
 		$command \
 		-- $command_args $command_args_foreground
 	rc=$?