diff --git a/git-send-email.perl b/git-send-email.perl
index 1bf090a881..c012b95560 100755
--- a/git-send-email.perl
+++ b/git-send-email.perl
@@ -881,7 +881,7 @@ sub sanitize_address {
 	# double quotes are needed if specials or CTLs are included
 	elsif ($recipient_name =~ /[][()<>@,;:\\".\000-\037\177]/) {
 		$recipient_name =~ s/(["\\\r])/\\$1/g;
-		$recipient_name = "\"$recipient_name\"";
+		$recipient_name = qq["$recipient_name"];
 	}
 
 	return "$recipient_name $recipient_addr";