diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 41aa9c53..a942c2f6 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ ver. 0.8.2 (2008/??/??) - stable
   fail2ban.conf.
 - Added Mac OS/X startup script. Thanks to Bill Heaton.
 - Absorbed some Debian patches. Thanks to Yaroslav Halchenko.
+- Replaced "echo" with "printf" in actions. Fix #1839673
 
 ver. 0.8.1 (2007/08/14) - stable
 ----------
diff --git a/config/action.d/dummy.conf b/config/action.d/dummy.conf
index be426b4a..12ceefed 100644
--- a/config/action.d/dummy.conf
+++ b/config/action.d/dummy.conf
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # Values:  CMD
 #
 actionstart = touch /tmp/fail2ban.dummy
-              echo "<init>" >> /tmp/fail2ban.dummy
+              printf %%b "<init>\n" >> /tmp/fail2ban.dummy
 
 # Option:  actionstop
 # Notes.:  command executed once at the end of Fail2Ban
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ actioncheck =
 #          <time>  unix timestamp of the ban time
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionban = echo "+<ip>" >> /tmp/fail2ban.dummy
+actionban = printf %%b "+<ip>\n" >> /tmp/fail2ban.dummy
 
 # Option:  actionunban
 # Notes.:  command executed when unbanning an IP. Take care that the
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ actionban = echo "+<ip>" >> /tmp/fail2ban.dummy
 #          <time>  unix timestamp of the ban time
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionunban = echo "-<ip>" >> /tmp/fail2ban.dummy
+actionunban = printf %%b "-<ip>\n" >> /tmp/fail2ban.dummy
 
 [Init]
 
diff --git a/config/action.d/hostsdeny.conf b/config/action.d/hostsdeny.conf
index 2e314eb3..8c98420a 100644
--- a/config/action.d/hostsdeny.conf
+++ b/config/action.d/hostsdeny.conf
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ actioncheck =
 # Values:  CMD
 #
 actionban = IP=<ip> &&
-            echo "ALL: $IP" >> <file>
+            printf %%b "ALL: $IP\n" >> <file>
 
 # Option:  actionunban
 # Notes.:  command executed when unbanning an IP. Take care that the
diff --git a/config/action.d/mail-buffered.conf b/config/action.d/mail-buffered.conf
index c761847a..90b624b8 100644
--- a/config/action.d/mail-buffered.conf
+++ b/config/action.d/mail-buffered.conf
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 # Notes.:  command executed once at the start of Fail2Ban.
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionstart = echo -en "Hi,\n
+actionstart = printf %%b "Hi,\n
               The jail <name> has been started successfully.\n
               Output will be buffered until <lines> lines are available.\n
               Regards,\n
@@ -22,14 +22,14 @@ actionstart = echo -en "Hi,\n
 # Values:  CMD
 #
 actionstop = if [ -f <tmpfile> ]; then
-                 echo -en "Hi,\n
+                 printf %%b "Hi,\n
                  These hosts have been banned by Fail2Ban.\n
                  `cat <tmpfile>`
                  Regards,\n
                  Fail2Ban"|mail -s "[Fail2Ban] <name>: Summary" <dest>
                  rm <tmpfile>
              fi
-             echo -en "Hi,\n
+             printf %%b "Hi,\n
              The jail <name> has been stopped.\n
              Regards,\n
              Fail2Ban"|mail -s "[Fail2Ban] <name>: stopped" <dest>
@@ -48,10 +48,10 @@ actioncheck =
 #          <time>  unix timestamp of the ban time
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionban = echo `date`": <ip> (<failures> failures)" >> <tmpfile>
+actionban = printf %%b "`date`: <ip> (<failures> failures)\n" >> <tmpfile>
             LINE=$( wc -l <tmpfile> | awk '{ print $1 }' )
             if [ $LINE -eq <lines> ]; then
-                echo -en "Hi,\n
+                printf %%b "Hi,\n
                 These hosts have been banned by Fail2Ban.\n
                 `cat <tmpfile>`
                 \nRegards,\n
diff --git a/config/action.d/mail-whois-lines.conf b/config/action.d/mail-whois-lines.conf
index 08f2a932..6d3343b6 100644
--- a/config/action.d/mail-whois-lines.conf
+++ b/config/action.d/mail-whois-lines.conf
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 # Notes.:  command executed once at the start of Fail2Ban.
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionstart = echo -en "Hi,\n
+actionstart = printf %%b "Hi,\n
               The jail <name> has been started successfully.\n
               Regards,\n
               Fail2Ban"|mail -s "[Fail2Ban] <name>: started" <dest>
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ actionstart = echo -en "Hi,\n
 # Notes.:  command executed once at the end of Fail2Ban
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionstop = echo -en "Hi,\n
+actionstop = printf %%b "Hi,\n
              The jail <name> has been stopped.\n
              Regards,\n
              Fail2Ban"|mail -s "[Fail2Ban] <name>: stopped" <dest>
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ actioncheck =
 #          <bantime>  unix timestamp of the ban time
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionban = echo -en "Hi,\n
+actionban = printf %%b "Hi,\n
             The IP <ip> has just been banned by Fail2Ban after
             <failures> attempts against <name>.\n\n
             Here are more information about <ip>:\n
diff --git a/config/action.d/mail-whois.conf b/config/action.d/mail-whois.conf
index 1a2a2f0e..9e6ec88e 100644
--- a/config/action.d/mail-whois.conf
+++ b/config/action.d/mail-whois.conf
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 # Notes.:  command executed once at the start of Fail2Ban.
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionstart = echo -en "Hi,\n
+actionstart = printf %%b "Hi,\n
               The jail <name> has been started successfully.\n
               Regards,\n
               Fail2Ban"|mail -s "[Fail2Ban] <name>: started" <dest>
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ actionstart = echo -en "Hi,\n
 # Notes.:  command executed once at the end of Fail2Ban
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionstop = echo -en "Hi,\n
+actionstop = printf %%b "Hi,\n
              The jail <name> has been stopped.\n
              Regards,\n
              Fail2Ban"|mail -s "[Fail2Ban] <name>: stopped" <dest>
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ actioncheck =
 #          <time>  unix timestamp of the ban time
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionban = echo -en "Hi,\n
+actionban = printf %%b "Hi,\n
             The IP <ip> has just been banned by Fail2Ban after
             <failures> attempts against <name>.\n\n
             Here are more information about <ip>:\n
diff --git a/config/action.d/mail.conf b/config/action.d/mail.conf
index 940ccc03..01f22ff8 100644
--- a/config/action.d/mail.conf
+++ b/config/action.d/mail.conf
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 # Notes.:  command executed once at the start of Fail2Ban.
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionstart = echo -en "Hi,\n
+actionstart = printf %%b "Hi,\n
               The jail <name> has been started successfully.\n
               Regards,\n
               Fail2Ban"|mail -s "[Fail2Ban] <name>: started" <dest>
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ actionstart = echo -en "Hi,\n
 # Notes.:  command executed once at the end of Fail2Ban
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionstop = echo -en "Hi,\n
+actionstop = printf %%b "Hi,\n
              The jail <name> has been stopped.\n
              Regards,\n
              Fail2Ban"|mail -s "[Fail2Ban] <name>: stopped" <dest>
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ actioncheck =
 #          <time>  unix timestamp of the ban time
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionban = echo -en "Hi,\n
+actionban = printf %%b "Hi,\n
             The IP <ip> has just been banned by Fail2Ban after
             <failures> attempts against <name>.\n
             Regards,\n
diff --git a/config/action.d/sendmail-buffered.conf b/config/action.d/sendmail-buffered.conf
index 153aa574..698981a0 100644
--- a/config/action.d/sendmail-buffered.conf
+++ b/config/action.d/sendmail-buffered.conf
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 # Notes.:  command executed once at the start of Fail2Ban.
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionstart = echo -en "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: started
+actionstart = printf %%b "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: started
               From: Fail2Ban <<sender>>
               To: <dest>\n
               Hi,\n
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ actionstart = echo -en "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: started
 # Values:  CMD
 #
 actionstop = if [ -f <tmpfile> ]; then
-                 echo -en "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: summary
+                 printf %%b "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: summary
                  From: Fail2Ban <<sender>>
                  To: <dest>\n
                  Hi,\n
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ actionstop = if [ -f <tmpfile> ]; then
                  Fail2Ban" | /usr/sbin/sendmail -f <sender> <dest>
                  rm <tmpfile>
              fi
-             echo -en "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: stopped
+             printf %%b "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: stopped
              From: Fail2Ban <<sender>>
              To: <dest>\n
              Hi,\n
@@ -57,10 +57,10 @@ actioncheck =
 #          <time>  unix timestamp of the ban time
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionban = echo `date`": <ip> (<failures> failures)" >> <tmpfile>
+actionban = printf %%b "`date`: <ip> (<failures> failures)\n" >> <tmpfile>
             LINE=$( wc -l <tmpfile> | awk '{ print $1 }' )
             if [ $LINE -eq <lines> ]; then
-                echo -en "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: summary
+                printf %%b "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: summary
                 From: Fail2Ban <<sender>>
                 To: <dest>\n
                 Hi,\n
diff --git a/config/action.d/sendmail-whois-lines.conf b/config/action.d/sendmail-whois-lines.conf
index 4ab21348..0624d592 100644
--- a/config/action.d/sendmail-whois-lines.conf
+++ b/config/action.d/sendmail-whois-lines.conf
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 # Notes.:  command executed once at the start of Fail2Ban.
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionstart = echo -en "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: started
+actionstart = printf %%b "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: started
               From: Fail2Ban <<sender>>
               To: <dest>\n
               Hi,\n
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ actionstart = echo -en "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: started
 # Notes.:  command executed once at the end of Fail2Ban
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionstop = echo -en "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: stopped
+actionstop = printf %%b "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: stopped
              From: Fail2Ban <<sender>>
              To: <dest>\n
              Hi,\n
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ actioncheck =
 #          <time>  unix timestamp of the ban time
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionban = echo -en "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: banned <ip>
+actionban = printf %%b "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: banned <ip>
             From: Fail2Ban <<sender>>
             To: <dest>\n
             Hi,\n
diff --git a/config/action.d/sendmail-whois.conf b/config/action.d/sendmail-whois.conf
index 2d8ab96c..d029005c 100644
--- a/config/action.d/sendmail-whois.conf
+++ b/config/action.d/sendmail-whois.conf
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 # Notes.:  command executed once at the start of Fail2Ban.
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionstart = echo -en "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: started
+actionstart = printf %%b "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: started
               From: Fail2Ban <<sender>>
               To: <dest>\n
               Hi,\n
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ actionstart = echo -en "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: started
 # Notes.:  command executed once at the end of Fail2Ban
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionstop = echo -en "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: stopped
+actionstop = printf %%b "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: stopped
              From: Fail2Ban <<sender>>
              To: <dest>\n
              Hi,\n
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ actioncheck =
 #          <time>  unix timestamp of the ban time
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionban = echo -en "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: banned <ip>
+actionban = printf %%b "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: banned <ip>
             From: Fail2Ban <<sender>>
             To: <dest>\n
             Hi,\n
diff --git a/config/action.d/sendmail.conf b/config/action.d/sendmail.conf
index 111c3d6e..e705bb1e 100644
--- a/config/action.d/sendmail.conf
+++ b/config/action.d/sendmail.conf
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 # Notes.:  command executed once at the start of Fail2Ban.
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionstart = echo -en "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: started
+actionstart = printf %%b "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: started
               From: Fail2Ban <<sender>>
               To: <dest>\n
               Hi,\n
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ actionstart = echo -en "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: started
 # Notes.:  command executed once at the end of Fail2Ban
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionstop = echo -en "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: stopped
+actionstop = printf %%b "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: stopped
              From: Fail2Ban <<sender>>
              To: <dest>\n
              Hi,\n
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ actioncheck =
 #          <time>  unix timestamp of the ban time
 # Values:  CMD
 #
-actionban = echo -en "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: banned <ip>
+actionban = printf %%b "Subject: [Fail2Ban] <name>: banned <ip>
             From: Fail2Ban <<sender>>
             To: <dest>\n
             Hi,\n