diff --git a/scripts/git/pre-commit.git-hook b/scripts/git/pre-commit.git-hook
index 2e476c310e..c138d2ae21 100755
--- a/scripts/git/pre-commit.git-hook
+++ b/scripts/git/pre-commit.git-hook
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ fi
 
 ## Owned Source File Checks
 
-printf "Modified tor-owned source files:\n%s\n" "$CHECK_FILES"
+printf "Modified tor-owned source files:\\n%s\\n" "$CHECK_FILES"
 
 # We want word splitting here, because file names are space separated
 # shellcheck disable=SC2086