diff --git a/go/vt/vtctl/reparentutil/emergency_reparenter.go b/go/vt/vtctl/reparentutil/emergency_reparenter.go
index 7f99a7915fc..81c9ca8d312 100644
--- a/go/vt/vtctl/reparentutil/emergency_reparenter.go
+++ b/go/vt/vtctl/reparentutil/emergency_reparenter.go
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ func (erp *EmergencyReparenter) reparentReplicas(
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	latestPosStr := latestPosition.String()
+	latestPosStr := replication.EncodePosition(latestPosition)
 	handleReplica := func(alias string, ti *topo.TabletInfo) {
 		defer replWg.Done()
 		erp.logger.Infof("setting new primary on replica %v", alias)