diff --git a/dev-java/protobuf-java/protobuf-java-3.21.12.ebuild b/dev-java/protobuf-java/protobuf-java-3.21.12.ebuild
index 7885a6ab21ee5..c51ed676a58d9 100644
--- a/dev-java/protobuf-java/protobuf-java-3.21.12.ebuild
+++ b/dev-java/protobuf-java/protobuf-java-3.21.12.ebuild
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ src_prepare() {
 	# Copy them from ../src/google/protobuf to JAVA_RESOURCE_DIRS
 	pushd "${JAVA_RESOURCE_DIRS}" || die
 	jar cv "@${T}/core_proto" | jar xv
-	assert"Copying protos failed"
+	assert "Copying protos failed"
 	popd || die
 
 	# https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/blob/v21.12/java/core/generate-sources-build.xml