diff --git a/tools/unit_test_runner.sh b/tools/unit_test_runner.sh
index 2cfa02c5cc7..d48f7162a4b 100755
--- a/tools/unit_test_runner.sh
+++ b/tools/unit_test_runner.sh
@@ -59,8 +59,7 @@ if [[ "$VTEVALENGINETEST" == "1" ]]; then
 fi
 
 if [[ "$VTEVALENGINETEST" == "0" ]]; then
-  # shellcheck disable=SC2086
-  packages_with_tests=$(echo $packages_with_tests | grep -v "evalengine")
+  packages_with_tests=$(echo "$packages_with_tests" | grep -v "evalengine")
 fi
 
 # Flaky tests have the suffix "_flaky_test.go".