diff --git a/hotspot/test/runtime/6888954/vmerrors.sh b/hotspot/test/runtime/6888954/vmerrors.sh
index d5db80a6f33..5a47e2208c0 100644
--- a/hotspot/test/runtime/6888954/vmerrors.sh
+++ b/hotspot/test/runtime/6888954/vmerrors.sh
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ do
     done
     rm -f $$
 
-    i=$(expr $i + 1)
+    i=`expr $i + 1`
 done
 
 exit $rc