diff --git a/plugins/chrony/chrony b/plugins/chrony/chrony
index af27cf1a..40e2c0e6 100755
--- a/plugins/chrony/chrony
+++ b/plugins/chrony/chrony
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ echo "$fields" | while read fieldname factor regex label; do
 		value="U"
 	else
 		# the keyword "slow" indicates negative values
-		value="$(echo "$status_line" | awk '{ /slow/ ? SIGN=-1 : SIGN=1; print $1 * SIGN * '"$factor"' }')"
+		value="$(echo "$status_line" | awk '{ /slow/ ? (SIGN=-1) : (SIGN=1); print $1 * SIGN * '"$factor"' }')"
 	fi
 	echo "${fieldname}.value $value"
 done