diff --git a/mysql-test/include/not_as_root.inc b/mysql-test/include/not_as_root.inc
index 315963d824e..e0277ea593e 100644
--- a/mysql-test/include/not_as_root.inc
+++ b/mysql-test/include/not_as_root.inc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 -- require r/not_as_root.require
 disable_query_log;
-select $MYSQL_TEST_ROOT as running_as_root;
+eval select "$MYSQL_TEST_ROOT" as running_as_root;
 enable_query_log;