diff --git a/src/perl/Makefile.am b/src/perl/Makefile.am
index 64c58b56..795914e7 100644
--- a/src/perl/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/perl/Makefile.am
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ all-local:
 	  if [ ! -f Makefile ]; then \
             $(perlpath) Makefile.PL $(PERL_MM_PARAMS); \
 	  fi && \
-	  ($(MAKE) CC=$(CC) || $(MAKE) CC=$(CC)) && \
+	  ($(MAKE) CC="$(CC)" || $(MAKE) CC="$(CC)") && \
 	  cd ..; \
 	done