diff --git a/icu4c/source/config/icu-config-bottom b/icu4c/source/config/icu-config-bottom
index fa1dcd54b95..fc138956ec7 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/config/icu-config-bottom
+++ b/icu4c/source/config/icu-config-bottom
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ do
 	    ;;
 
 	--invoke=*)
-	    QUOT="'"
+	    QUOT="\""
             CMD="${var}"
 
             # If it's not a locally executable command (1st choice) then 
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ do
 	    ;;
 
 	--invoke)
-	    QUOT="'"
+	    QUOT="\""
 	    echo "env ${QUOT}${LDLIBRARYPATH_ENVVAR}=${libdir}:"'${'"${LDLIBRARYPATH_ENVVAR}"'}'${QUOT}
 	    ;;