diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 482497e974..8b48e72a13 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -2311,7 +2311,7 @@ LINKS="$LINKS python"
 LINKS="$LINKS contrib/plugins/Makefile "
 for f in $LINKS ; do
     if [ -e "$source_path/$f" ]; then
-        mkdir -p `dirname ./$f`
+        mkdir -p "$(dirname ./"$f")"
         symlink "$source_path/$f" "$f"
     fi
 done