diff --git a/yadm b/yadm
index 4da57c7..b703b36 100755
--- a/yadm
+++ b/yadm
@@ -410,13 +410,13 @@ EOF
 
     # operate on the yadm repo's configuration file
     # this is always local to the machine
-    $GIT_PROGRAM config --local "$@"
+    "$GIT_PROGRAM" config --local "$@"
 
     CHANGES_POSSIBLE=1
 
   else
     # operate on the yadm configuration file
-    $GIT_PROGRAM config --file="$(mixed_path "$YADM_CONFIG")" "$@"
+    "$GIT_PROGRAM" config --file="$(mixed_path "$YADM_CONFIG")" "$@"
 
   fi
 
@@ -844,7 +844,7 @@ function set_operating_system() {
 
   case "$OPERATING_SYSTEM" in
     CYGWIN*)
-      git_version=$($GIT_PROGRAM --version 2>/dev/null)
+      git_version="$("$GIT_PROGRAM" --version 2>/dev/null)"
       if [[ "$git_version" =~ windows ]] ; then
           USE_CYGPATH=1
       fi