diff --git a/nodemgmt-scripts.sh b/nodemgmt-scripts.sh
index 3361e853..42eeac39 100755
--- a/nodemgmt-scripts.sh
+++ b/nodemgmt-scripts.sh
@@ -119,7 +119,8 @@ STATUS() {
 					else
 						checked="`ssh root@10.5.10.51 \"ssh root@${nip} \"cat ${REPL_CHECKS[${rcheck}]}/test.repl\" | diff - ${REPL_CHECKS[${rcheck}]}/test.repl\"`"
 					fi
-					if [ "`date +%s`" -gt "$timeout" ]; then
+					cdate=`date +%s`
+					if [ "${cdate}" -gt "$timeout" ]; then
 						timeout=true
 						break
 					fi