diff --git a/tools/misc/xend b/tools/misc/xend
index e9bd8e18c7..82198fcea3 100644
--- a/tools/misc/xend
+++ b/tools/misc/xend
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def check_user():
 
 def start_xenstored():
     XENSTORED_TRACE = os.getenv("XENSTORED_TRACE")
-    cmd = "xenstored --pid-file=/var/run/xenstore.pid"
+    cmd = "xenstored --pid-file /var/run/xenstore.pid"
     if XENSTORED_TRACE:
         cmd += " -T /var/log/xenstored-trace.log"
     s,o = commands.getstatusoutput(cmd)