diff --git a/src/nmcli/devices.c b/src/nmcli/devices.c
index 43bd3724b7..5b8d0ce01a 100644
--- a/src/nmcli/devices.c
+++ b/src/nmcli/devices.c
@@ -4801,7 +4801,7 @@ do_device_wifi_show_password(const NMCCommand *cmd, NmCli *nmc, int argc, const
             found = TRUE;
         } else {
             if (ifname) {
-                g_string_printf(nmc->return_text, _("%s"), error->message);
+                g_string_assign(nmc->return_text, error->message);
                 nmc->return_value = NMC_RESULT_ERROR_UNKNOWN;
                 return;
             }