diff --git a/src/tools/entab/entab.c b/src/tools/entab/entab.c
index 726c855a9ae..3b849f2a72f 100644
--- a/src/tools/entab/entab.c
+++ b/src/tools/entab/entab.c
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ extern int	optind;
 static void
 output_accumulated_spaces(int *prv_spaces, char **dst)
 {
-	for (; *prv_spaces > 0; *prv_spaces--)
+	for (; *prv_spaces > 0; (*prv_spaces)--)
 		*((*dst)++) = ' ';
 }