diff --git a/backup.sh b/backup.sh
index 3cd0842..84315be 100755
--- a/backup.sh
+++ b/backup.sh
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ function scriptHelp {
 
 ### generate dynamic timestamps
 function stamp {
-    echo `date +%F" "%T`
+    (date +%F" "%T)
 }
 
 ### quit -- exit the script after logging any errors, warnings, etc.