diff --git a/t/helper/test-trace2.c b/t/helper/test-trace2.c
index 180c7f53f3..a714130ece 100644
--- a/t/helper/test-trace2.c
+++ b/t/helper/test-trace2.c
@@ -224,8 +224,8 @@ static int ut_009bug_BUG(int argc, const char **argv)
 
 static int ut_010bug_BUG(int argc, const char **argv)
 {
-	bug("a bug message");
-	BUG("a BUG message");
+	bug("a %s message", "bug");
+	BUG("a %s message", "BUG");
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/usage.c b/usage.c
index 79900d0287..56e29d6cd6 100644
--- a/usage.c
+++ b/usage.c
@@ -334,15 +334,17 @@ NORETURN void BUG_fl(const char *file, int line, const char *fmt, ...)
 int bug_called_must_BUG;
 void bug_fl(const char *file, int line, const char *fmt, ...)
 {
-	va_list ap, cp;
+	va_list ap;
 
 	bug_called_must_BUG = 1;
 
-	va_copy(cp, ap);
 	va_start(ap, fmt);
 	BUG_vfl_common(file, line, fmt, ap);
 	va_end(ap);
-	trace2_cmd_error_va(fmt, cp);
+
+	va_start(ap, fmt);
+	trace2_cmd_error_va(fmt, ap);
+	va_end(ap);
 }
 
 #ifdef SUPPRESS_ANNOTATED_LEAKS