diff --git a/ioc/modules/devshell.nix b/ioc/modules/devshell.nix
index 744a160b..3a8716da 100644
--- a/ioc/modules/devshell.nix
+++ b/ioc/modules/devshell.nix
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ in {
           # set to empty if unset
           : "''${EPICS_COMPONENTS=}"
 
-          IFS=: read -ra components <<<$EPICS_COMPONENTS
+          IFS=: read -ra components <<<"$EPICS_COMPONENTS"
 
           for component in "''${components[@]}"; do
             echo "$component"