diff --git a/exercises/concept/log-levels/.meta/src/reference/java/LogLevels.java b/exercises/concept/log-levels/.meta/src/reference/java/LogLevels.java
index 5291f17c4..a1e18de48 100644
--- a/exercises/concept/log-levels/.meta/src/reference/java/LogLevels.java
+++ b/exercises/concept/log-levels/.meta/src/reference/java/LogLevels.java
@@ -8,6 +8,6 @@ public static String logLevel(String logLine) {
     }
 
     public static String reformat(String logLine) {
-        return String.format("%s (%s)", message(logLine), logLevel(logLine));
+        return message(logLine) + " (" + logLevel(logLine) + ")";
     }
 }