diff --git a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/auto b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/auto
index 356a2152748c..fe4e0412bb0a 100755
--- a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/auto
+++ b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/auto
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ bsdinstall hostname || error
 
 export DISTRIBUTIONS="base.txz kernel.txz"
 if [ -f $BSDINSTALL_DISTDIR/MANIFEST ]; then
-	DISTMENU=`awk '!/^(kernel|base)/{print $4,$5,$6}' $BSDINSTALL_DISTDIR/MANIFEST`
+	DISTMENU=`awk -F'\t' '!/^(kernel|base)/{print $4,$5,$6}' $BSDINSTALL_DISTDIR/MANIFEST`
 
 	exec 3>&1
 	EXTRA_DISTS=$( eval dialog \