diff --git a/maketgz b/maketgz
index d935d2a242..c2c359aafa 100755
--- a/maketgz
+++ b/maketgz
@@ -66,8 +66,7 @@ fi
 echo "removing all old *.dist files"
 find . -name "*.dist" -a ! -name Makefile.dist -exec rm {} \;
 
-numeric=$(perl -e \
-  'printf("%02x%02x%02x\n", '"$major, $minor, $patch);")
+numeric="$(printf "%02x%02x%02x\n" "$major" "$minor" "$patch")"
 
 HEADER=include/curl/curlver.h
 CHEADER=src/tool_version.h