diff --git a/functions.inc.php b/functions.inc.php
index f2ba15c5..1ba4e3f8 100644
--- a/functions.inc.php
+++ b/functions.inc.php
@@ -1802,7 +1802,7 @@ function table_by_key ($table_key) {
         $table = $CONF['database_tables'][$table_key];
     }
 
-    return $CONF['database_prefix']."`".$table."`";
+    return "`".$CONF['database_prefix'].$table."`";
 }
 
 /*