diff --git a/m4/libtool.m4 b/m4/libtool.m4
index 20d2c3ab..23a68497 100644
--- a/m4/libtool.m4
+++ b/m4/libtool.m4
@@ -7563,8 +7563,8 @@ if AC_TRY_EVAL(ac_compile); then
     -L* | -R* | -l*)
        # Some compilers place space between "-{L,R}" and the path.
        # Remove the space.
-       if test x-L = "$p" ||
-          test x-R = "$p"; then
+       if test x-L = x"$p" ||
+          test x-R = x"$p"; then
 	 prev=$p
 	 continue
        fi