diff --git a/salt/modules/defaults.py b/salt/modules/defaults.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/salt/modules/defaults.py
+++ b/salt/modules/defaults.py
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ def get(key, default=''):
 
     defaults = _load(pillar_name, defaults_path)
 
-    value = __salt__['pillar.get']("%s:%s" % (pillar_name, key), None)
+    value = __salt__['pillar.get']('{0}:{1}'.format(pillar_name, key), None)
 
     if value is None:
         value = salt.utils.traverse_dict(defaults, key, None)
Using .format to build the pillar key as requested