diff --git a/test/runtime/6888954/vmerrors.sh b/test/runtime/6888954/vmerrors.sh
index d5db80a6f3395962f8d50d97852ca1f3eecda62b..5a47e2208c0a10251e36b45c5884a7b2b1638512 100644
--- a/test/runtime/6888954/vmerrors.sh
+++ b/test/runtime/6888954/vmerrors.sh
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ do
     done
     rm -f $$
 
-    i=$(expr $i + 1)
+    i=`expr $i + 1`
 done
 
 exit $rc