diff --git a/autoload/airline/extensions/whitespace.vim b/autoload/airline/extensions/whitespace.vim
index 9ad5971a..7b6ce3e0 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/extensions/whitespace.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/extensions/whitespace.vim
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ function! airline#extensions#whitespace#check()
       if s:show_message
         if trailing != 0
           let trailing_fmt = get(g:, 'airline#extensions#whitespace#trailing_format', '[%s]trailing')
-          let b:airline_whitespace_check .= space.printf(trailing_fm, trailing)
+          let b:airline_whitespace_check .= space.printf(trailing_fmt, trailing)
         endif
         if mixed != 0
           let mixed_indent_fmt = get(g:, 'airline#extensions#whitespace#mixed_indent_format', '[%s]mixed-indent')