diff --git a/hack/verify-gofmt.sh b/hack/verify-gofmt.sh
index 82416baec42..589a8406b24 100755
--- a/hack/verify-gofmt.sh
+++ b/hack/verify-gofmt.sh
@@ -44,9 +44,10 @@ find_files() {
     \) -name '*.go'
 }
 
-bad_files=$(find_files | xargs gofmt -s -l)
+GOFMT="gofmt -s"
+bad_files=$(find_files | xargs $GOFMT -l)
 if [[ -n "${bad_files}" ]]; then
-  echo "!!! gofmt needs to be run on the following files: "
+  echo "!!! '$GOFMT' needs to be run on the following files: "
   echo "${bad_files}"
   exit 1
 fi