diff --git a/usr.bin/less/zless.sh b/usr.bin/less/zless.sh
index b947b819f2c0..f2e035c2d7e2 100644
--- a/usr.bin/less/zless.sh
+++ b/usr.bin/less/zless.sh
@@ -3,5 +3,5 @@
 # $FreeBSD$
 #
 
-export LESSOPEN="|/usr/bin/lesspipe.sh %s"
+export LESSOPEN="||/usr/bin/lesspipe.sh %s"
 exec /usr/bin/less "$@"