diff --git a/package/ipkg/Makefile b/package/ipkg/Makefile
index 8b3b5c87f7..209069122b 100644
--- a/package/ipkg/Makefile
+++ b/package/ipkg/Makefile
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ CONFIGURE_ARGS += $(DISABLE_LARGEFILE)
 
 define Build/Compile
 	$(MAKE) -C $(PKG_BUILD_DIR) \
-		CC=$(TARGET_CC) \
+		CC="$(TARGET_CC)" \
 		DESTDIR="$(PKG_INSTALL_DIR)" \
 		all install
 endef