diff --git a/conf/type/__mkfs/gencode-remote b/conf/type/__mkfs/gencode-remote
index 0a220ec9..67e37cce 100755
--- a/conf/type/__mkfs/gencode-remote
+++ b/conf/type/__mkfs/gencode-remote
@@ -18,20 +18,20 @@
 # along with cdist. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
-device="(cat "$__object/parameter/device")"
-type="(cat "$__object/parameter/type")"
+device="$(cat "$__object/parameter/device")"
+type="$(cat "$__object/parameter/type")"
 
 if [ "$type" = "swap" ]; then
    echo "mkswap $device"
 else
    command="mkfs -t $type"
    if [ -f "$__object/parameter/options" ]; then
-      options="(cat "$__object/parameter/options")"
+      options="$(cat "$__object/parameter/options")"
       command="$command -o '$options'"
    fi
    command="$command $device"
    if [ -f "$__object/parameter/blocks" ]; then
-      blocks="(cat "$__object/parameter/blocks")"
+      blocks="$(cat "$__object/parameter/blocks")"
       command="$command $blocks"
    fi
    echo "$command"