diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/trivial-builders/default.nix b/pkgs/build-support/trivial-builders/default.nix
index 10ad4ab187e3..04e284ca9652 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/trivial-builders/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/trivial-builders/default.nix
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ rec {
           if [ -e "$textPath" ]; then
             mv "$textPath" "$target"
           else
-            echo -n "$text" > "$target"
+            printf "%s" "$text" > "$target"
           fi
 
           if [ -n "$executable" ]; then