diff --git a/recipes-images/angstrom/systemd-image.bb b/recipes-images/angstrom/systemd-image.bb
index d0441a1..4406737 100644
--- a/recipes-images/angstrom/systemd-image.bb
+++ b/recipes-images/angstrom/systemd-image.bb
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ LIC_FILES_CHKSUM = "file://${COREBASE}/LICENSE;md5=3f40d7994397109285ec7b81fdeb3
 IMAGE_PREPROCESS_COMMAND = "rootfs_update_timestamp"
 
 DISTRO_UPDATE_ALTERNATIVES ??= ""
-ROOTFS_PKGMANAGE_PKGS ?= ${@base_conditional("ONLINE_PACKAGE_MANAGEMENT", "none", "", "${ROOTFS_PKGMANAGE} ${DISTRO_UPDATE_ALTERNATIVES}", d)}
+ROOTFS_PKGMANAGE_PKGS ?= '${@base_conditional("ONLINE_PACKAGE_MANAGEMENT", "none", "", "${ROOTFS_PKGMANAGE} ${DISTRO_UPDATE_ALTERNATIVES}", d)}'
 
 CONMANPKGS ?= "connman connman-plugin-loopback connman-plugin-ethernet connman-plugin-wifi connman-systemd"
 CONMANPKGS_libc-uclibc = ""