diff --git a/dist/tools/edbg/Makefile b/dist/tools/edbg/Makefile
index 3ea2b1789c..ca0cce6046 100644
--- a/dist/tools/edbg/Makefile
+++ b/dist/tools/edbg/Makefile
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ all: git-download
 # Start edbg build in a clean environment, so variables set by RIOT's build process
 # for cross compiling a specific target platform are reset and edbg can
 # be built cleanly for the native platform.
-	env -i PATH=$(PATH) TERM=$(TERM) "$(MAKE)" -C $(PKG_BUILDDIR)
+	env -i PATH="$(PATH)" TERM="$(TERM)" "$(MAKE)" -C "$(PKG_BUILDDIR)"
 	mv $(PKG_BUILDDIR)/edbg .
 
 include $(RIOTBASE)/pkg/pkg.mk