diff --git a/po-properties/Makefile.in.in b/po-properties/Makefile.in.in
index 41b41df04f..7212a24f3d 100644
--- a/po-properties/Makefile.in.in
+++ b/po-properties/Makefile.in.in
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ all-no:
 
 $(srcdir)/$(GETTEXT_PACKAGE).pot: $(POTFILES)
 	XGETTEXT="$(XGETTEXT)" \
-	XGETTEXT_KEYWORDS=$(XGETTEXT_KEYWORDS)" \
+	XGETTEXT_KEYWORDS="$(XGETTEXT_KEYWORDS)" \
 	GETTEXT_PACKAGE="$(GETTEXT_PACKAGE)" \
 	top_srcdir="$(top_srcdir)" \
 	srcdir="$(srcdir)" \