diff --git a/src/scripts/xzdiff.in b/src/scripts/xzdiff.in
index c17d78b2..72249d3a 100644
--- a/src/scripts/xzdiff.in
+++ b/src/scripts/xzdiff.in
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ elif test $# -eq 2; then
     esac;;
   esac
 else
-  printf '%s\n' "$0: Invalid number of operands; try \`${0##*/} --help' for help" >&2
+  printf '%s\n' "$0: Invalid number of operands; try '${0##*/} --help' for help" >&2
   exit 2
 fi
 
diff --git a/src/scripts/xzgrep.in b/src/scripts/xzgrep.in
index 490e47d7..c98fb30d 100644
--- a/src/scripts/xzgrep.in
+++ b/src/scripts/xzgrep.in
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ done
 eval "set -- $operands "'${1+"$@"}'
 
 if test $have_pat -eq 0; then
-  case ${1?"Missing pattern; try \`${0##*/} --help' for help"} in
+  case ${1?"Missing pattern; try '${0##*/} --help' for help"} in
   (*\'*)
     grep="$grep -e '"$(printf '%sX\n' "$1" | LC_ALL=C sed "$escape");;
   (*)