diff --git a/hack/verify-cli-conventions.sh b/hack/verify-cli-conventions.sh
index d768eb0a560..935d5dc0d71 100755
--- a/hack/verify-cli-conventions.sh
+++ b/hack/verify-cli-conventions.sh
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ make -C "${KUBE_ROOT}" WHAT="${BINS[*]}"
 
 clicheck=$(kube::util::find-binary "clicheck")
 
-if ! output=`$clicheck 2>&1`
+if ! output=$($clicheck 2>&1)
 then
 	echo "$output"
 	echo