diff --git a/contrib/examples/git-merge.sh b/contrib/examples/git-merge.sh
index a5e42a9f01..7e40f40c78 100755
--- a/contrib/examples/git-merge.sh
+++ b/contrib/examples/git-merge.sh
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ case "$use_strategies" in
 '')
 	case "$#" in
 	1)
-		var="`git config --get pull.twohead`"
+		var="$(git config --get pull.twohead)"
 		if test -n "$var"
 		then
 			use_strategies="$var"
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ case "$use_strategies" in
 			use_strategies="$default_twohead_strategies"
 		fi ;;
 	*)
-		var="`git config --get pull.octopus`"
+		var="$(git config --get pull.octopus)"
 		if test -n "$var"
 		then
 			use_strategies="$var"