diff --git a/src/mnemonics/electrum-words.cpp b/src/mnemonics/electrum-words.cpp
index 48c9ab1ba..2dd40cc9a 100644
--- a/src/mnemonics/electrum-words.cpp
+++ b/src/mnemonics/electrum-words.cpp
@@ -340,9 +340,7 @@ namespace crypto
         const size_t expected = len * 3 / 32;
         if (seed.size() == expected/2)
         {
-          dst += ' ';                    // if electrum 12-word seed, duplicate
-          dst += dst;                    // if electrum 12-word seed, duplicate
-          dst.pop_back();                // trailing space
+          dst.append(dst.data(), dst.size()); // if electrum 12-word seed, duplicate
         }
       }