diff --git a/git-am.sh b/git-am.sh
index ee61a77d71..47dcd9320a 100755
--- a/git-am.sh
+++ b/git-am.sh
@@ -184,7 +184,9 @@ It does not apply to blobs recorded in its index.")"
 }
 
 clean_abort () {
-	test $# = 0 || echo >&2 "$@"
+	test $# = 0 || cat >&2 <<EOF
+$@
+EOF
 	rm -fr "$dotest"
 	exit 1
 }