diff --git a/src/tools/common.jam b/src/tools/common.jam
index 00b8d8284..0c42a15d3 100644
--- a/src/tools/common.jam
+++ b/src/tools/common.jam
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ rule get-invocation-command (
             if $(.debug-configuration)
             {
                 ECHO "warning: toolset $(toolset) initialization: " ;
-                ECHO "warning: can't find user-provided command '$(user-provided-command:J= )'" ;
+                ECHO "warning: can't find user-provided command " '$(user-provided-command)' ;
                 ECHO "warning: initialized from" [ errors.nearest-user-location ] ;
             }
             # It's possible, in theory, that user-provided command is OK, but we're