diff --git a/bin/package b/bin/package
index f8a3ef532..65dedf01c 100755
--- a/bin/package
+++ b/bin/package
@@ -2667,7 +2667,7 @@ do_install() # dir [ command ... ]
 	dd=$1
 	shift
 	case $dd in
-	'' | [^/]*)
+	'' | [!/]*)
 		err_out "ERROR: destination directory '$dd' must begin with a /" ;;
 	esac
 	# commands to install by default
diff --git a/src/cmd/INIT/package.sh b/src/cmd/INIT/package.sh
index f8a3ef532..65dedf01c 100644
--- a/src/cmd/INIT/package.sh
+++ b/src/cmd/INIT/package.sh
@@ -2667,7 +2667,7 @@ do_install() # dir [ command ... ]
 	dd=$1
 	shift
 	case $dd in
-	'' | [^/]*)
+	'' | [!/]*)
 		err_out "ERROR: destination directory '$dd' must begin with a /" ;;
 	esac
 	# commands to install by default