diff --git a/src/packages/fff/fff-babeld/files/lib/functions/fff/babel b/src/packages/fff/fff-babeld/files/lib/functions/fff/babel
index 7a7620b6..83c3a58c 100644
--- a/src/packages/fff/fff-babeld/files/lib/functions/fff/babel
+++ b/src/packages/fff/fff-babeld/files/lib/functions/fff/babel
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ babel_add_peeraddr() {
 		uci add_list "$option"="$ip"
 	elif ipaddr=$(uci -q get gateway.@client[0].ipaddr); then
 		# use client interface address (without subnet) if no router_ip is set
-		uci add_list "$option"=$(echo $ipaddr | cut -d / -f1)
+		uci add_list "$option"=${ipaddr%%/*}
 	else
 		echo "WARNING: No peer_ip, router_ip or client interface ipaddr set! IPv4 routing is not possible."
 		return 1