rpm --qf gives out nonsense (ignores arg completely?) if --qf format starts with a slash: see transcript below: $ rpm -q rpm --qf '%{N}\n' rpm $ rpm -q rpm --qf '/usr/share/doc/%{N}\n' rpm-5.4.14-5.x86_64 $ rpm -q rpm --qf '/%{N}\n' rpm-5.4.14-5.x86_64 $ rpm -q rpm --qf 'lol%{N}\n' lolrpm so... wtf?! -- glen