diff --git a/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc b/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
index 0e828a8cfbf..fe33259abdd 100644
--- a/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
+++ b/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ static int _main(int argc, char * * argv)
                         debug("declined remote machine '%s' because it is disabled", storeUri);
                     } else if (std::find(m.systemTypes.begin(), m.systemTypes.end(), neededSystem)
                         == m.systemTypes.end()) {
-                        printInfo(format("declined remote machine '%1%' for building '%2%' because it does not have the needed system type: '%3%") % m.storeUri % drvstr % neededSystem);
+                        printInfo("declined remote machine '%s' for building '%s' because it does not have the needed system type '%s", m.storeUri, drvstr, neededSystem);
                     } else if (!m.allSupported(requiredFeatures)) {
                         std::string joinedFeatures = concatStringsSep(" ", requiredFeatures); // includes leading space
                         printInfo(format("declined remote machine '%1%' for building '%2%' because it does not have all required features: [ %3% ]") % m.storeUri % drvstr % joinedFeatures);