diff --git a/ident.c b/ident.c
index 96b56e66d1..9e2438826d 100644
--- a/ident.c
+++ b/ident.c
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ const char *fmt_ident(const char *name, const char *email,
 
 		if ((warn_on_no_name || error_on_no_name) &&
 		    name == git_default_name && env_hint) {
-			fprintf(stderr, env_hint);
+			fputs(env_hint, stderr);
 			env_hint = NULL; /* warn only once */
 		}
 		if (error_on_no_name)