diff --git a/common/hooks/pre-pkg/04-generate-runtime-deps.sh b/common/hooks/pre-pkg/04-generate-runtime-deps.sh
index d244a8495c7..b5307ff8226 100644
--- a/common/hooks/pre-pkg/04-generate-runtime-deps.sh
+++ b/common/hooks/pre-pkg/04-generate-runtime-deps.sh
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ store_pkgdestdir_rundeps() {
                      -z "$($XBPS_UHELPER_CMD getpkgname ${_curdep} 2>/dev/null)" ]; then
                     _curdep="${_curdep}>=0"
                 fi
-                printf "${_curdep} " >> ${PKGDESTDIR}/rdeps
+                printf -- "${_curdep} " >> ${PKGDESTDIR}/rdeps
             done
         fi
 }