diff --git a/package/microperl/microperl.mk b/package/microperl/microperl.mk
index bf76fa7d2a..b68e82548a 100644
--- a/package/microperl/microperl.mk
+++ b/package/microperl/microperl.mk
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ $(MICROPERL_DIR)/.source: $(DL_DIR)/$(MICROPERL_SOURCE)
 
 $(MICROPERL_DIR)/.host_configured: $(MICROPERL_DIR)/.source
 	# we need to build a perl for the host just for Errno.pm
-	(cd $(MICROPERL_DIR); ./Configure -Dcc=$(HOSTCC) -de  )
+	(cd $(MICROPERL_DIR); ./Configure -Dcc="$(HOSTCC)" -de  )
 	touch $@