diff --git a/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme b/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme
index 3c3303fa..41653077 100755
--- a/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme
+++ b/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme
@@ -1134,7 +1134,7 @@ prompt_ip() {
 set_default POWERLEVEL9K_VPN_IP_INTERFACE "tun"
 # prompt if vpn active
 prompt_vpn_ip() {
-  for vpn_iface in $(/sbin/ifconfig | grep -e ^"$POWERLEVEL9K_VPN_IP_INTERFACE" | cut -d":" -f1)
+  for vpn_iface in $(/sbin/ifconfig | grep -e "^${POWERLEVEL9K_VPN_IP_INTERFACE}" | cut -d":" -f1)
   do
     ip=$(/sbin/ifconfig "$vpn_iface" | grep -o "inet\s.*" | cut -d' ' -f2)
     "$1_prompt_segment" "$0" "$2" "cyan" "$DEFAULT_COLOR" "$ip" 'VPN_ICON'