diff --git a/meta/recipes-core/systemd/systemd-systemctl/systemctl b/meta/recipes-core/systemd/systemd-systemctl/systemctl
index c8b5c9efe3..0fd7e24085 100755
--- a/meta/recipes-core/systemd/systemd-systemctl/systemctl
+++ b/meta/recipes-core/systemd/systemd-systemctl/systemctl
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ class SystemdUnit():
         try:
             for dependent in config.get('Install', prop):
                 # expand any %i to instance (ignoring escape sequence %%)
-                dependent = re.sub("([^%](%%)*)%i", "\\1{}".format(instance), dependent)
+                dependent = re.sub("([^%](%%)*)%i", "\\g<1>{}".format(instance), dependent)
                 wants = systemdir / "{}.{}".format(dependent, dirstem) / service
                 add_link(wants, target)