diff --git a/examples/compose/vtcompose/vtcompose.go b/examples/compose/vtcompose/vtcompose.go
index cb089e17dc7..c6df1d72e48 100644
--- a/examples/compose/vtcompose/vtcompose.go
+++ b/examples/compose/vtcompose/vtcompose.go
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ func generateExternalPrimary(
 	if dbInfo.dbName != "" {
 		externalDb = "1"
 	} else {
-		return fmt.Sprintf(``)
+		return ""
 	}
 
 	return fmt.Sprintf(`