diff --git a/progs/Makefile b/progs/Makefile
index 3700707dfb1..d5852fa416c 100644
--- a/progs/Makefile
+++ b/progs/Makefile
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ TOP = ..
 
 include $(TOP)/configs/current
 
-SUBDIRS = $(PROGRAM_DIRS)
+SUBDIRS = "$(strip "$(PROGRAM_DIRS)")"
 
 
 default: message subdirs