diff --git a/usr/libexec/security-misc/apt-get-update-sanity-test b/usr/libexec/security-misc/apt-get-update-sanity-test
index f96a4f8..7efac72 100755
--- a/usr/libexec/security-misc/apt-get-update-sanity-test
+++ b/usr/libexec/security-misc/apt-get-update-sanity-test
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ set -x
 set -e
 set -o pipefail
 
-if ! printf '%s\n' | wc -l >/dev/null ; then
-  printf "\
+if ! printf '%s\n' "" | wc -l >/dev/null ; then
+  printf '%s\n' "\
 $0: ERROR: command 'wc' test failed! Do not ignore this!
 
 'wc' can core dump. Example:
diff --git a/usr/libexec/security-misc/pam-info b/usr/libexec/security-misc/pam-info
index 3ac9a5d..c13bea4 100755
--- a/usr/libexec/security-misc/pam-info
+++ b/usr/libexec/security-misc/pam-info
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ ERROR: Please report this bug." >&2
 
 trap error_handler ERR
 
-if ! printf '%s\n' | wc -l >/dev/null ; then
-  printf "\
+if ! printf '%s\n' "" | wc -l >/dev/null ; then
+  printf '%s\n' "\
 $0: ERROR: command 'wc' test failed! Do not ignore this!
 
 'wc' can core dump. Example: