diff --git a/tools/configure b/tools/configure
index 2782a526f5..c97f4a3d3a 100755
--- a/tools/configure
+++ b/tools/configure
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ coldfirecc () {
  AR=m68k-elf-ar
  AS=m68k-elf-as
  OC=m68k-elf-objcopy
- GCCOPTS="$CCOPTS -m5200 -Wa,-m5249"
+ GCCOPTS="$CCOPTS -m5200 -Wa\,-m5249"
  GCCOPTIMIZE="-fomit-frame-pointer"
 }