diff --git a/utils/config b/utils/config
index dfaaf46cd7..038986ca6c 100755
--- a/utils/config
+++ b/utils/config
@@ -172,10 +172,10 @@ while [ "$1" != "" ] ; do
 		;;
 
 	--state|-s)
-		if grep -q "# ${BR2_PREFIX}$ARG is not set" $FN ; then
+		if grep -q "# ${BR2_PREFIX}$ARG is not set" "$FN" ; then
 			echo n
 		else
-			if V="$(grep "^${BR2_PREFIX}$ARG=" $FN)"; then
+			if V="$(grep "^${BR2_PREFIX}$ARG=" "$FN")"; then
 				V="${V/#${BR2_PREFIX}$ARG=/}"
 				V="${V/#\"/}"
 				V="${V/%\"/}"