diff --git a/scripts/qapi/doc.py b/scripts/qapi/doc.py
index 0ea68bf813426ae8ff9e2d86045558fee4c436dd..79d11bbe9b57ee951a286a131ad36f7ef666ab98 100644
--- a/scripts/qapi/doc.py
+++ b/scripts/qapi/doc.py
@@ -134,10 +134,9 @@ def texi_enum_value(value):
 def texi_member(member, suffix=''):
     """Format a table of members item for an object type member"""
     typ = member.type.doc_type()
-    return '@item @code{%s%s%s}%s%s\n' % (
-        member.name,
-        ': ' if typ else '',
-        typ if typ else '',
+    membertype = ': ' + typ if typ else ''
+    return '@item @code{%s%s}%s%s\n' % (
+        member.name, membertype,
         ' (optional)' if member.optional else '',
         suffix)