diff --git a/tests/init.sh b/tests/init.sh
index 5176d05a..b0dbbf84 100644
--- a/tests/init.sh
+++ b/tests/init.sh
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ check_prog()
 
 check_strace()
 {
-	STRACE=${*-../strace}
+	STRACE=${*:-../strace}
 	$STRACE -V > /dev/null ||
 		framework_failure_ "$STRACE is not available"
 }