diff --git a/src/fs_stat.hpp b/src/fs_stat.hpp
index abaa1551..7d9b9b98 100644
--- a/src/fs_stat.hpp
+++ b/src/fs_stat.hpp
@@ -98,7 +98,8 @@ namespace fs
         return rv;
       }
 
-    DIE("Should never reach this: follow_={}",sc<int>(follow_));
+    auto s = fmt::format("Should never reach this: follow_={}",sc<int>(follow_));
+    DIE(s);
     return -EINVAL;
   }
 }