diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/boost/1.53.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/boost/1.53.nix
index c3272e98a14..ff09dfd5954 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/boost/1.53.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/boost/1.53.nix
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ let
   layout = if taggedLayout then "tagged" else "system";
 
   cflags = if enablePIC && enableExceptions then
-             "cflags=-fPIC -fexceptions cxxflags=-fPIC linkflags=-fPIC"
+             "cflags=\"-fPIC -fexceptions\" cxxflags=-fPIC linkflags=-fPIC"
            else if enablePIC then
              "cflags=-fPIC cxxflags=-fPIC linkflags=-fPIC"
            else if enableExceptions then