diff --git a/svc-guesthandler b/svc-guesthandler
index 30b753a..3f84d51 100644
--- a/svc-guesthandler
+++ b/svc-guesthandler
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ if [ -z $SMF_FMRI ];
     		exit $SMF_EXIT_ERR_NOSMF
 fi
 
-ME=$(basename ${0#svc-})
+ME=$(basename $0)
+ME=${ME#svc-}
 
 function log	{
 		# helper function to log arbitrary messages via syslog