diff --git a/script/ethercatctl.in b/script/ethercatctl.in
index 1a6f58a0..281794e7 100755
--- a/script/ethercatctl.in
+++ b/script/ethercatctl.in
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ start)
             exit 1
         fi
 
-        LOADED_MODULES=${ECMODULE} ${LOADED_MODULES}
+        LOADED_MODULES="${ECMODULE} ${LOADED_MODULES}"
     done
 
     exit 0