diff --git a/contrib/mw-to-git/Makefile b/contrib/mw-to-git/Makefile
index 36fa14c2b5..37b68e2571 100644
--- a/contrib/mw-to-git/Makefile
+++ b/contrib/mw-to-git/Makefile
@@ -16,13 +16,15 @@ INSTALL = install
 SCRIPT_PERL_FULL=$(patsubst %,$(HERE)/%,$(SCRIPT_PERL))
 INSTLIBDIR=$(shell $(MAKE) -C $(GIT_ROOT_DIR)/perl \
                 -s --no-print-directory instlibdir)
+DESTDIR_SQ = $(subst ','\'',$(DESTDIR))
+INSTLIBDIR_SQ = $(subst ','\'',$(INSTLIBDIR))
 
 all: build
 
 install_pm:
-	$(INSTALL) -d -m 755 $(DESTDIR)$(INSTLIBDIR)/Git
+	$(INSTALL) -d -m 755 '$(DESTDIR_SQ)$(INSTLIBDIR_SQ)/Git'
 	$(INSTALL) -m 644 $(GIT_MEDIAWIKI_PM) \
-		$(DESTDIR)$(INSTLIBDIR)/$(GIT_MEDIAWIKI_PM)
+		'$(DESTDIR_SQ)$(INSTLIBDIR_SQ)/$(GIT_MEDIAWIKI_PM)'
 
 build:
 	$(MAKE) -C $(GIT_ROOT_DIR) SCRIPT_PERL=$(SCRIPT_PERL_FULL) \