diff --git a/git-merge.sh b/git-merge.sh
index 92e5a65cae..8c0a92c147 100755
--- a/git-merge.sh
+++ b/git-merge.sh
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ for remote
 do
 	echo $remote
 done >"$GIT_DIR/MERGE_HEAD"
-echo $merge_msg >"$GIT_DIR/MERGE_MSG"
+echo "$merge_msg" >"$GIT_DIR/MERGE_MSG"
 
 if test "$merge_was_ok" = t
 then