diff --git a/smog.el b/smog.el
index 3265248..5effd05 100644
--- a/smog.el
+++ b/smog.el
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ Further details can be found in the =style(1)= man page.\n"
 	  (smog-target (buffer-file-name (current-buffer))))
       ;; run the shell command. synchronously.
       (shell-command
-       (format "%s %s" smog-command smog-target) smog-output)
+       (format "%s '%s'" smog-command smog-target) smog-output)
       ;; output the results and add references (in org-mode if it's available)
       (with-current-buffer smog-output
 	(goto-char (point-min))