diff --git a/autoload/airline/highlighter.vim b/autoload/airline/highlighter.vim
index 8f2e075a..9300f34d 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/highlighter.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/highlighter.vim
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ else
       return true
     else
       if &vbs
-        :echomsg printf("airline: group: %s already done, skipping", name)
+        echomsg printf("airline: group: %s already done, skipping", name)
       endif
       return false
     endif