diff --git a/builtin-check-attr.c b/builtin-check-attr.c
index 4921341e33..15a04b7179 100644
--- a/builtin-check-attr.c
+++ b/builtin-check-attr.c
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ int cmd_check_attr(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	else if (stdin_paths && doubledash < argc)
 		errstr = "Can't specify files with --stdin";
 	if (errstr) {
-		error (errstr);
+		error("%s", errstr);
 		usage_with_options(check_attr_usage, check_attr_options);
 	}
 
diff --git a/hash-object.c b/hash-object.c
index 20937ff94c..846e91a231 100644
--- a/hash-object.c
+++ b/hash-object.c
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ int main(int argc, const char **argv)
 	}
 
 	if (errstr) {
-		error (errstr);
+		error("%s", errstr);
 		usage_with_options(hash_object_usage, hash_object_options);
 	}