diff --git a/bin/tests/system/nzd2nzf/tests.sh b/bin/tests/system/nzd2nzf/tests.sh
index 4389fcc6f7..9ed144c76d 100644
--- a/bin/tests/system/nzd2nzf/tests.sh
+++ b/bin/tests/system/nzd2nzf/tests.sh
@@ -34,8 +34,7 @@ status=$((status+ret))
 
 n=$((n+1))
 echo_i "adding a new zone into default NZD using rndc addzone ($n)"
-rndccmd 10.53.0.1 addzone "added.example { type primary; file \"added.db\";
-};" 2>&1 | sed 's/^/I:ns1 /' | cat_i
+rndccmd 10.53.0.1 addzone 'added.example { type primary; file "added.db"; };' 2>&1 | sed 's/^/I:ns1 /' | cat_i
 sleep 2
 
 n=$((n+1))