diff --git a/external/Makefile b/external/Makefile
index c47fdf52a..66a3e1354 100644
--- a/external/Makefile
+++ b/external/Makefile
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ SUBMODULES =					\
 TOP := ../..
 ifdef BUILD
 CROSSCOMPILE_OPTS := --host="$(MAKE_HOST)" --build="$(BUILD)"
-TARGET_DIR := external/"$(MAKE_HOST)"
+TARGET_DIR := external/$(MAKE_HOST)
 else
-TARGET_DIR := external/"$(shell ${CC} -dumpmachine)"
+TARGET_DIR := external/$(shell ${CC} -dumpmachine)
 endif
 
 LIBSODIUM_HEADERS := external/libsodium/src/libsodium/include/sodium.h