diff --git a/init-po-files b/init-po-files
index 2cb8aac..fa299fa 100755
--- a/init-po-files
+++ b/init-po-files
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ for dir in */; do
             svn add "$podir"
         fi
         for file in $(find . -name '*.pot'); do
-            po=$(echo "$file" | sed 's/.\{1\}$//')
+            po=${file:0:-1}
             if [ ! -e "$podir/$po" ]; then
                 echo -e "${RED}${dir}/${po}${ENDCOLOR}"
                 msginit -i "$file" -o "$podir/$po" --no-translator