diff --git a/distrib/scripts/is_text.sh b/distrib/scripts/is_text.sh
index 73af195d33..253dcdb7db 100755
--- a/distrib/scripts/is_text.sh
+++ b/distrib/scripts/is_text.sh
@@ -26,10 +26,10 @@ if [ `basename $1` = "config.guess" ] ; then
 fi
 
 # ignore makefile.wat etc
-if [ basename $1 = "makefile.wat" ] ; then
+if [ `basename $1` = "makefile.wat" ] ; then
     exit 1
 fi
-if [ basename $1 = "config.wat" ] ; then
+if [ `basename $1` = "config.wat" ] ; then
     exit 1
 fi