diff --git a/build/Makefile b/build/Makefile
index 1dfb585..c03e0de 100644
--- a/build/Makefile
+++ b/build/Makefile
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ CFG_DIR = $(BASE_DIR)/cfg
 LIBS = libtoxcore ncursesw libconfig
 
 CFLAGS = -std=gnu99 -pthread -Wall -g
-CFLAGS += -DTOXICVER="\"$(VERSION)\"" -DHAVE_WIDECHAR -D_XOPEN_SOURCE_EXTENDED
+CFLAGS += '-DTOXICVER="$(VERSION)"' -DHAVE_WIDECHAR -D_XOPEN_SOURCE_EXTENDED
 CFLAGS += -DPACKAGE_DATADIR="\"$(abspath $(DATADIR))\""
 CFLAGS += $(USER_CFLAGS)
 LDFLAGS = $(USER_LDFLAGS)