diff --git a/check_http_json.py b/check_http_json.py
index 80a4b7b..51b0928 100755
--- a/check_http_json.py
+++ b/check_http_json.py
@@ -41,20 +41,23 @@ class NagiosHelper:
     critical_message = ''
     unknown_message = ''
 
-    def getMessage(self):
+    def getMessage(self, message=''):
         """
         Build a status-prefixed message with optional performance data
         generated externally
         """
 
-        text = "%s: Status %s." % (self.message_prefixes[self.getCode()],
-                                   self.message_prefixes[self.getCode()])
-        text += self.warning_message
-        text += self.critical_message
-        text += self.unknown_message
+        message += self.warning_message
+        message += self.critical_message
+        message += self.unknown_message
+        code = self.message_prefixes[self.getCode()]
+        output = "{code}: Status {code}. {message}".format(code=code, message=message.strip())
         if self.performance_data:
-            text += "|%s" % self.performance_data
-        return text
+            output = "{code}: {perf_data} Status {code}. {message}|{perf_data}".format(
+                code=code,
+                message=message.strip(),
+                perf_data=self.performance_data)
+        return output.strip()
 
     def getCode(self):
         code = OK_CODE
diff --git a/test/test_nagioshelper.py b/test/test_nagioshelper.py
index fb8c9ec..61aff88 100644
--- a/test/test_nagioshelper.py
+++ b/test/test_nagioshelper.py
@@ -48,4 +48,4 @@ class NagiosHelperTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
         helper = NagiosHelper()
         helper.performance_data = 'foobar'
-        self.assertEqual('OK: Status OK.|foobar', helper.getMessage())
+        self.assertEqual('OK: foobar Status OK. |foobar', helper.getMessage())