diff --git a/tools/patman/gitutil.py b/tools/patman/gitutil.py
index 167bda3..08be937 100644
--- a/tools/patman/gitutil.py
+++ b/tools/patman/gitutil.py
@@ -419,10 +419,10 @@
     if cover_fname:
         cmd.append(cover_fname)
     cmd += args
-    str = ' '.join(cmd)
+    cmdstr = ' '.join(cmd)
     if not dry_run:
-        os.system(str)
-    return str
+        os.system(cmdstr)
+    return cmdstr
 
 
 def LookupEmail(lookup_name, alias=None, raise_on_error=True, level=0):