diff --git a/mlx/backend/common/make_compiled_preamble.sh b/mlx/backend/common/make_compiled_preamble.sh
index 93eca9ca1..bbb1187d1 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/common/make_compiled_preamble.sh
+++ b/mlx/backend/common/make_compiled_preamble.sh
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ EOM
 
 fi
 
-CONTENT=$($GCC -I $SRCDIR -E $SRCDIR/mlx/backend/common/compiled_preamble.h 2>/dev/null)
+CONTENT=$($GCC -I "$SRCDIR" -E "$SRCDIR/mlx/backend/common/compiled_preamble.h" 2>/dev/null)
 
 cat << EOF > "$OUTPUT_FILE"
 const char* get_kernel_preamble() {
diff --git a/mlx/backend/metal/make_compiled_preamble.sh b/mlx/backend/metal/make_compiled_preamble.sh
index 40e3852bc..8e5d34b96 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/metal/make_compiled_preamble.sh
+++ b/mlx/backend/metal/make_compiled_preamble.sh
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ SRC_NAME=$(basename -- "${SRC_FILE}")
 INPUT_FILE=${SRC_DIR}/mlx/backend/metal/kernels/${SRC_FILE}.h
 OUTPUT_FILE=${OUTPUT_DIR}/${SRC_NAME}.cpp
 
-mkdir -p $OUTPUT_DIR
+mkdir -p "$OUTPUT_DIR"
 
-CONTENT=$($CC -I $SRC_DIR -DMLX_METAL_JIT -E -P $INPUT_FILE $CFLAGS 2>/dev/null)
+CONTENT=$($CC -I "$SRC_DIR" -DMLX_METAL_JIT -E -P "$INPUT_FILE" $CFLAGS 2>/dev/null)
 
 cat << EOF > "$OUTPUT_FILE"
 namespace mlx::core::metal {