diff --git a/core/definitions.mk b/core/definitions.mk
index 974da647a..3eb49200d 100644
--- a/core/definitions.mk
+++ b/core/definitions.mk
@@ -2689,7 +2689,7 @@ endef
 define copy-file-to-target
 @mkdir -p $(dir $@)
 $(hide) rm -f $@
-$(hide) cp $< $@
+$(hide) cp "$<" "$@"
 endef
 
 # The same as copy-file-to-target, but use the local
@@ -2697,7 +2697,7 @@ endef
 define copy-file-to-target-with-cp
 @mkdir -p $(dir $@)
 $(hide) rm -f $@
-$(hide) cp -p $< $@
+$(hide) cp -p "$<" "$@"
 endef
 
 # The same as copy-file-to-target, but strip out "# comment"-style