diff --git a/src/inifix/enotation.py b/src/inifix/enotation.py
index fcf9aef..79c351f 100644
--- a/src/inifix/enotation.py
+++ b/src/inifix/enotation.py
@@ -137,8 +137,7 @@ def encode(r: float, /) -> str:
             return "0e0"
         max_ndigit = len(base.replace(".", "")) - 1
         fmt = f".{max_ndigit}e"
-        s = "{:^{}}".format(r, fmt)
-        return ENotationIO.simplify(s)
+        return ENotationIO.simplify(f"{r:{fmt}}")
 
     @staticmethod
     def encode_preferential(r: float, /) -> str: