diff --git a/zsh/prompt b/zsh/prompt
index f1be9a4..44c9c14 100755
--- a/zsh/prompt
+++ b/zsh/prompt
@@ -143,19 +143,19 @@ function updateprompt () {
 		if [[ -n ${remote} ]] ; then
 			# for git prior to 1.7
 			# ahead=$(git rev-list origin/${hook_com[branch]}..HEAD | wc -l)
-			local ahead="$(git rev-list ${branch}@{upstream}..HEAD 2>/dev/null | wc -l)"
+			local ahead="$(git rev-list ${branch}@{upstream}..HEAD 2>/dev/null | wc -l | xargs)"
 			gitstatus+=( "${GREEN}+${ahead}${GRAY}" )
 
 			# for git prior to 1.7
 			# behind=$(git rev-list HEAD..origin/${hook_com[branch]} | wc -l)
-			local behind="$(git rev-list HEAD..${branch}@{upstream} 2>/dev/null | wc -l)"
+			local behind="$(git rev-list HEAD..${branch}@{upstream} 2>/dev/null | wc -l | xargs)"
 			gitstatus+=( "${RED}-${behind}${GRAY}" )
 
 			remotepart="${RESETCOLOR}${GRAY}[${remote} ${(j:/:)gitstatus}]${RESETCOLOR}"
 		fi
 		local stashpart=""
 		if [[ -s ${gitdir}/refs/stash ]] ; then
-			stashes=$(git stash list 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
+			stashes="$(git stash list 2>/dev/null | wc -l | xargs)"
 			stashpart="${RESETCOLOR}${GRAY}(${GREEN}${stashes}${GRAY} stashed)${RESETCOLOR}"
 		fi
 		local stats="$(git_prompt_status)"