diff --git a/src/Makefile.global.in b/src/Makefile.global.in
index 76ea044753a..a7564e424f7 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.global.in
+++ b/src/Makefile.global.in
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ endef
 
 define prove_check
 $(MKDIR_P) tmp_check/log
-$(MAKE) -C $(top_builddir) DESTDIR=$(CURDIR)/tmp_check/install install >$(CURDIR)/tmp_check/log/install.log 2>&1
+$(MAKE) -C $(top_builddir) DESTDIR='$(CURDIR)'/tmp_check/install install >'$(CURDIR)'/tmp_check/log/install.log 2>&1
 cd $(srcdir) && TESTDIR='$(CURDIR)' PATH="$(CURDIR)/tmp_check/install$(bindir):$$PATH" $(call add_to_path,$(ld_library_path_var),$(CURDIR)/tmp_check/install$(libdir)) PGPORT='6$(DEF_PGPORT)' $(PROVE) $(PG_PROVE_FLAGS) $(PROVE_FLAGS) t/
 endef