diff --git a/debug.c b/debug.c
index b819b06e63..7ca9e3aae5 100644
--- a/debug.c
+++ b/debug.c
@@ -70,10 +70,7 @@ void
 ruby_debug_print_indent(int level, int debug_level, int indent_level)
 {
     if (level < debug_level) {
-	int i;
-	for (i = 0; i < indent_level; i++) {
-	    fprintf(stderr, " ");
-	}
+	fprintf(stderr, "%*s", indent_level, "");
 	fflush(stderr);
     }
 }