diff --git a/nselib/stdnse.lua b/nselib/stdnse.lua
index 96874108c..fde75a74f 100644
--- a/nselib/stdnse.lua
+++ b/nselib/stdnse.lua
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ print_debug = function(level, fmt, ...)
   if verbosity then
     nmap.print_debug_unformatted(verbosity, fmt:format(...));
   else
-    nmap.print_debug_unformatted(1, level:format(...));
+    nmap.print_debug_unformatted(1, level:format(fmt, ...));
   end
 end