diff --git a/tools/releasetools/apex_utils.py b/tools/releasetools/apex_utils.py
index 73f36c7daa..54df955e9f 100644
--- a/tools/releasetools/apex_utils.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/apex_utils.py
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ class ApexApkSigner(object):
     # --signing_args "--signing_helper_with_files=%path" to apexer
     if signing_args:
       generate_image_cmd.extend(
-          ['--signing_args', signing_args])
+          ['--signing_args', '"{}"'.format(signing_args)])
 
     # optional arguments for apex repacking
     manifest_json = os.path.join(apex_dir, 'apex_manifest.json')