diff --git a/xCAT/postscripts/ospkgs b/xCAT/postscripts/ospkgs
index bec1b22b7..2651b1373 100755
--- a/xCAT/postscripts/ospkgs
+++ b/xCAT/postscripts/ospkgs
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ groups=''   #groups
 pkgs_d=''   #packages to remove
 
 OIFS=$IFS
-IFS=$(printf '\n')
+IFS=$'\n'
 if ( pmatch "$OSVER" "ubuntu*" ); then
     IFS=$(printf '\n')
 fi