diff --git a/lib/statsd/instrument.rb b/lib/statsd/instrument.rb
index ef31b1c8..381455f9 100644
--- a/lib/statsd/instrument.rb
+++ b/lib/statsd/instrument.rb
@@ -124,8 +124,7 @@ def self.write(k,v,op, sample_rate = default_sample_rate)
     return unless enabled
     return if sample_rate < 1 && rand > sample_rate
 
-    command = "#{k}:#{v}"
-    command.prepend("#{prefix}.") if prefix
+    command = "#{self.prefix + '.' if self.prefix}#{k}:#{v}"
     case op
     when :incr
       command << '|c'