diff --git a/packaging/rpm-oel/mysql-systemd-start b/packaging/rpm-oel/mysql-systemd-start
index 8670f889574..12a1b16db80 100644
--- a/packaging/rpm-oel/mysql-systemd-start
+++ b/packaging/rpm-oel/mysql-systemd-start
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ get_option () {
     local option=$2
     local default=$3
     ret=$(/usr/bin/my_print_defaults $section | grep '^--'${option}'=' | cut -d= -f2-)
-    [ -z $ret ] && ret=$default
+    [ -z "$ret" ] && ret=$default
     echo $ret
 }