diff --git a/autostart.sh b/autostart.sh
index 0c4641a..d85f458 100755
--- a/autostart.sh
+++ b/autostart.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 if (xrdb -query | grep -q "^awesome\\.started:\\s*true$"); then echo already started; exit; fi;
-xrdb -merge <<< "awesome.started:true";
+echo "awesome.started: true" | xrdb -merge
 gnome-calls -d &
 chatty -D &
 mmsdtng &