diff --git a/gnu/packages/wm.scm b/gnu/packages/wm.scm
index 56a0ca63cf..361cecf26f 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/wm.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/wm.scm
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@ (define-public i3lock-fancy
                                         "/bin/gawk")))
 
                (substitute* "lock"
-                 (("$(which wmctrl)") wmctrl)
+                 (("\\$\\(command -V wmctrl\\)") wmctrl)
                  (("convert") mconvert)
                  (("shot=\\(import") (string-append "shot=\(" mimport))
                  (("awk -F") (string-append awk " -F"))