diff --git a/evennia/commands/default/building.py b/evennia/commands/default/building.py
index 4d8e7b5be0..d1c7ba11b7 100644
--- a/evennia/commands/default/building.py
+++ b/evennia/commands/default/building.py
@@ -1193,7 +1193,7 @@ class CmdTunnel(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
             backstring = f", {backname};{backshort}"
 
         # build the string we will use to call dig
-        digstring = f"dig{telswitch} {roomname} = {exitname};{exitshort}{backstring}"
+        digstring = f"@dig{telswitch} {roomname} = {exitname};{exitshort}{backstring}"
         self.execute_cmd(digstring)