diff --git a/autogen.sh b/autogen.sh
index aa154fe85..aed619674 100755
--- a/autogen.sh
+++ b/autogen.sh
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ set -e
 # done.
 
 run () {
-    test ${V} = 1 && echo $0: running: "$@"
+    test "${V}" = 1 && echo $0: running: "$@"
     "$@"
 }