diff --git a/sysctl/manifests/init.pp b/sysctl/manifests/init.pp
index a3950c5..f49ffd4 100644
--- a/sysctl/manifests/init.pp
+++ b/sysctl/manifests/init.pp
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ define sysctl::set($value) {
     exec { "sysctl-${name}":
 	command => "sysctl -w ${name}='${value}'",
 	path    => "/bin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/usr/sbin",
-	unless  => "sysctl -n ${name} | egrep '^${value}'",
+	unless  => "test \"`sysctl -n ${name}`\" = \"${value}\"",
     }
 
     exec { "sysctl-${name}-save":
@@ -28,4 +28,4 @@ define sysctl::set($value) {
 	unless  => "egrep '^${name}=' /etc/sysctl.conf",
     }
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}