diff --git a/git-submodule.sh b/git-submodule.sh
index 4d28fc0988..558a5ca107 100755
--- a/git-submodule.sh
+++ b/git-submodule.sh
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ cmd_summary() {
 			GIT_DIR="$name/.git" \
 			git log --pretty=oneline --first-parent $range | wc -l
 			)
-			total_commits=" ($total_commits)"
+			total_commits=" ($(($total_commits + 0)))"
 			;;
 		esac