diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 482bf22..bc7f9f7 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -864,7 +864,7 @@ config_host()
 
 	mb_cfghost_cflags="${mb_cfghost_cflags#*: }"
 
-	if [ $mb_cc_environment = 'freestanding' ]; then
+	if [ "$mb_cc_environment" = 'freestanding' ]; then
 		if [ -z "mb_cc_underscore" ]; then
 			mb_cfghost_start_fn='_start'
 		else