diff --git a/dots/bash/.bashrc b/dots/bash/.bashrc
index 80ddddc..f3492d3 100644
--- a/dots/bash/.bashrc
+++ b/dots/bash/.bashrc
@@ -83,10 +83,10 @@ rshift() {
         [ ${cmd} == "display" ] ; then
         if [ -f "${temperature_file}" ] ; then
             temperature=$(cat /tmp/temperature.txt)
+            echo "${temperature}K"
         else
-            temperature=?
+            echo "unknown temperature value"
         fi
-        echo "${temperature}K"
         return 1
     elif
         [ ${cmd} == "disable" ] ||