diff --git a/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.pl b/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.pl
index aa6a02a4541..bbe5df4c57a 100755
--- a/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.pl
+++ b/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.pl
@@ -1908,7 +1908,7 @@ sub collect_mysqld_features_from_running_server ()
   }
 
   mtr_add_arg($args, "--silent"); # Tab separated output
-  mtr_add_arg($args, "-e '%s'", "use mysql; SHOW VARIABLES");
+  mtr_add_arg($args, "-e \"use mysql; SHOW VARIABLES\"");
   my $cmd= "$mysql " . join(' ', @$args);
   mtr_verbose("cmd: $cmd");