diff --git a/autoload/airline/extensions/tabline/formatters/tabnr.vim b/autoload/airline/extensions/tabline/formatters/tabnr.vim
index fa710148..5f31ef24 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/extensions/tabline/formatters/tabnr.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/extensions/tabline/formatters/tabnr.vim
@@ -4,11 +4,12 @@
 scriptencoding utf-8
 
 function! airline#extensions#tabline#formatters#tabnr#format(tab_nr_type, nr)
+  let spc=g:airline_symbols.space
   if a:tab_nr_type == 0 " nr of splits
-    return (g:airline_symbols.space).'%{len(tabpagebuflist('.a:nr.'))}'
+    return spc. '%{len(tabpagebuflist('.a:nr.'))}'
   elseif a:tab_nr_type == 1 " tab number
-    return (g:airline_symbols.space).a:nr
+    return spc. a:nr
   else "== 2 splits and tab number
-    return (g:airline_symbols.space).a:nr.'.%{len(tabpagebuflist('.a:nr.'))}'
+    return spc. a:nr. '.%{len(tabpagebuflist('.a:nr.'))}'
   endif
 endfunction