diff --git a/configure b/configure
index ae97e11a97..2bb3faa07e 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1233,7 +1233,7 @@ else
   fi
   sdl=no
 fi
-if test -n "$cross_prefix" && test "`basename $sdlconfig`" = sdl-config; then
+if test -n "$cross_prefix" && test "$(basename "$sdlconfig")" = sdl-config; then
   echo warning: using "\"$sdlconfig\"" to detect cross-compiled sdl >&2
 fi