diff --git a/secure/usr.bin/ssh/Makefile b/secure/usr.bin/ssh/Makefile
index 91900bf4ae5c..3ea618697a16 100644
--- a/secure/usr.bin/ssh/Makefile
+++ b/secure/usr.bin/ssh/Makefile
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ DPADD+=	 ${LIBKRB5} ${LIBCOM_ERR} ${LIBASN1} ${LIBMD} ${LIBCRYPT}
 .include <bsd.prog.mk>
 
 .if defined(X11BASE)
-CFLAGS+= -DXAUTH_PATH=${X11BASE}/bin/xauth
+CFLAGS+= -DXAUTH_PATH=\"${X11BASE}/bin/xauth\"
 .endif
 
 LDADD+=	-L${.OBJDIR}/../../lib/libssh -lssh -lcrypto -lutil -lz