diff --git a/Makefile.org b/Makefile.org
index a9e27273d..65a686d38 100644
--- a/Makefile.org
+++ b/Makefile.org
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ libcrypto$(SHLIB_EXT): libcrypto.a fips_premain_dso$(EXE_EXT)
 			FIPSLD_CC="$(CC)"; CC=$(FIPSDIR)/bin/fipsld; \
 			export CC FIPSLD_CC FIPSLD_LIBCRYPTO; \
 		fi; \
-		$(MAKE) -e SHLIBDIRS=crypto  CC=$${CC:-$(CC)} build-shared; \
+		$(MAKE) -e SHLIBDIRS=crypto  CC="$${CC:-$(CC)}" build-shared; \
 		touch -c fips_premain_dso$(EXE_EXT); \
 	else \
 		echo "There's no support for shared libraries on this platform" >&2; \