diff --git a/share/functions/fish_job_summary.fish b/share/functions/fish_job_summary.fish
index 9a8bdffa6..09c06a9a2 100644
--- a/share/functions/fish_job_summary.fish
+++ b/share/functions/fish_job_summary.fish
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ function fish_job_summary -a job_id is_foreground cmd_line signal_or_end_name si
     end
 
     set -l max_cmd_len 32
-    set cmd_line (string shorten -m$max_cmd_len -- $cmd_line)
+    set cmd_line (string shorten -m$max_cmd_len -- $cmd_line | string collect)
 
     set -l message
     switch $signal_or_end_name