diff --git a/awx/ui/client/src/controllers/Inventories.js b/awx/ui/client/src/controllers/Inventories.js
index 9decf20065..187a99d10e 100644
--- a/awx/ui/client/src/controllers/Inventories.js
+++ b/awx/ui/client/src/controllers/Inventories.js
@@ -879,7 +879,7 @@ export function InventoriesManage ($log, $scope, $rootScope, $location,
                 allSelectedItems = allSelectedItems.concat($scope.hostsSelectedItems);
             }
             if (allSelectedItems) {
-                host_patterns = _.pluck(allSelectedItems, "name").join(", ");
+                host_patterns = _.pluck(allSelectedItems, "name").join(":");
             }
         }
         $rootScope.hostPatterns = host_patterns;