diff --git a/db/pull.sh b/db/pull.sh
index 35bc3bb77393ee40553fb57e782f0993ada7eb34..c6e65bf57df8ef921f0cb10f31aec36090bc636b 100755
--- a/db/pull.sh
+++ b/db/pull.sh
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
 cd "$SCRIPT_DIR"
 
 FLAG_FILE="/tmp/poduptime.pulling"
-HOUR=`date +%H`
-DAY=`date +%d`
+HOUR=$(date +%H)
+DAY=$(date +%d)
 HAPPY=" :-)"
 SAD=" :-("