diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/017 b/tests/qemu-iotests/017
index 45f2c0b055..aba3faf712 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/017
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/017
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ echo "Creating test image with backing file"
 echo
 
 TEST_IMG=$TEST_IMG_SAVE
-_make_test_img -b $TEST_IMG.base 6G
+_make_test_img -b "$TEST_IMG.base" 6G
 
 echo "Filling test image"
 echo