diff --git a/kenv.mk b/kenv.mk
index 08601e170ea4..d9062e6cc92c 100644
--- a/kenv.mk
+++ b/kenv.mk
@@ -137,5 +137,5 @@ ifneq ($(strip $(TARGET_NO_KERNEL)),true)
   else
     BUILT_KERNEL_TARGET := $(TARGET_PREBUILT_KERNEL)
   endif#TARGET_PREBUILT_KERNEL is empty
-    KERNEL_MAKE_OPTION += PROJECT_DTB_NAMES=$(PROJECT_DTB_NAMES)
+    KERNEL_MAKE_OPTION += PROJECT_DTB_NAMES='$(PROJECT_DTB_NAMES)'
 endif#TARGET_NO_KERNEL