diff --git a/include/kernel-version.mk b/include/kernel-version.mk
index 508cf9934a..b504f7816d 100644
--- a/include/kernel-version.mk
+++ b/include/kernel-version.mk
@@ -21,5 +21,5 @@ endif
 LINUX_KERNEL_MD5SUM?=x
 
 KERNEL?=2.$(word 2,$(subst ., ,$(strip $(LINUX_VERSION))))
-KERNEL_PATCHVER=$(shell echo $(LINUX_VERSION) | cut -d. -f1,2,3 | cut -d- -f1)
+KERNEL_PATCHVER=$(shell echo '$(LINUX_VERSION)' | cut -d. -f1,2,3 | cut -d- -f1)