diff --git a/src/modules/river/layout.cpp b/src/modules/river/layout.cpp
index 945efa6..e938400 100644
--- a/src/modules/river/layout.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/river/layout.cpp
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ void Layout::handle_name(const char *name) {
     label_.hide();  // hide empty labels or labels with empty format
   } else {
     label_.show();
-    label_.set_markup(fmt::format(format_, Glib::Markup::escape_text(name).raw()));
+    label_.set_markup(fmt::format(fmt::runtime(format_), Glib::Markup::escape_text(name).raw()));
   }
   ALabel::update();
 }