diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 81d680e4de..f7a6123346 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ before_install:
       COMMIT_RANGE="$TRAVIS_COMMIT_RANGE"
     fi
     FILE_LIST=$(git diff --name-only $COMMIT_RANGE)
-    echo $FILE_LIST | grep -qvE '(\.md$)|(^(docs|support))/' || {
+    echo "$FILE_LIST" | grep -qvE '(\.md$)|(^(docs|support))/' || {
       echo "Only files not used in the build process were updated, aborting."
       exit
     }