diff --git a/qmake/library/qmakeevaluator.cpp b/qmake/library/qmakeevaluator.cpp
index 5c9dc45f3ae..acf09c11aaa 100644
--- a/qmake/library/qmakeevaluator.cpp
+++ b/qmake/library/qmakeevaluator.cpp
@@ -314,7 +314,8 @@ ProStringList QMakeEvaluator::split_value_list(const QString &vals, const ProFil
         switch (unicode) {
         case '"':
         case '\'':
-            quote = unicode;
+            if (!quote)
+                quote = unicode;
             hadWord = true;
             break;
         case ' ':