diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index bd19a22c..ac804c33 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ byobu (5.8) unreleased; urgency=low
     - do a better job counting ssh users
   * usr/share/byobu/status/status:
     - move wifi_quality to second right status
+  * usr/bin/byobu-status, usr/lib/byobu/include/constants:
+    - use printf instead of echo, saves a few forks
 
  -- Dustin Kirkland <kirkland@ubuntu.com>  Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:12:49 -0600
 
diff --git a/usr/bin/byobu-status b/usr/bin/byobu-status
index 1cae24b5..86f8c6ad 100755
--- a/usr/bin/byobu-status
+++ b/usr/bin/byobu-status
@@ -69,10 +69,10 @@ get_status() {
 	# Update cache now, if necessary
 	if [ $NOW -ge $expiry ] || [ "$lastrun" = "0" ]; then
 		"__$function" > "$cachepath"
-		echo "$NOW" > "$lastpath"
+		printf "%s" "$NOW" > "$lastpath"
 	fi
 	if [ -s "$cachepath" ]; then
-		IFS= read line < "$cachepath"; printf "$line"
+		IFS= read line < "$cachepath"; printf "%s" "$line"
 	fi
 }
 
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ case "$1" in
 	--detail)
 		VER=
 		if command -v dpkg-query >/dev/null; then
-			VER=$(set -- $(dpkg-query --show $PKG); echo "$2")
+			VER=$(set -- $(dpkg-query --show $PKG); printf "%s\n" "$2")
 		fi
 		printf "$PKG-$VER Detailed Status Navigation\n"
 		if command -v vim >/dev/null && `vim --version | grep -q +folding`; then
diff --git a/usr/lib/byobu/include/constants b/usr/lib/byobu/include/constants
index 1d6abce2..3ff3e7a5 100755
--- a/usr/lib/byobu/include/constants
+++ b/usr/lib/byobu/include/constants
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ else
 	ICON_GHz="GHz"
 	ICON_MBPS="Mbps"
 fi
-PCT="%%"
+PCT="%"
 
 # Support two different backends (screen/tmux)
 if [ -z "$BYOBU_BACKEND" ]; then