diff --git a/usr.bin/printf/printf.c b/usr.bin/printf/printf.c
index 58d2ccab06a1..2dcf4f447dce 100644
--- a/usr.bin/printf/printf.c
+++ b/usr.bin/printf/printf.c
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	 * arguments, arguments of zero/null string are provided to use
 	 * up the format string.
 	 */
-	skip1 = "#-+ 0";
+	skip1 = "#'-+ 0";
 	skip2 = "0123456789";
 
 	chopped = escape(fmt = format = *argv, 1);/* backslash interpretation */