diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 91d8e7d..82f502a 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ echo use_indirect_deps=$use_indirect_deps >&AS_MESSAGE_LOG_FD
 AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether to list both direct and indirect dependencies])
 case $use_indirect_deps in
   auto)
-    deplibs_check_method=`(./libtool --config; echo eval echo \$deplibs_check_method) | sh`
+    deplibs_check_method=`(./libtool --config; echo eval echo '\"$deplibs_check_method\"') | sh`
     if test "X$deplibs_check_method" = Xnone; then
     echo "foo: $deplibs_check_method" >&AS_MESSAGE_LOG_FD
       use_indirect_deps=yes