diff --git a/tools/execsnoop.py b/tools/execsnoop.py
index 651f944a1f82..9b406dfd335d 100755
--- a/tools/execsnoop.py
+++ b/tools/execsnoop.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@
 }
 """
 
-bpf_text.replace("MAXARG", args.max_args)
+bpf_text = bpf_text.replace("MAXARG", args.max_args)
 if args.ebpf:
     print(bpf_text)
     exit()