diff --git a/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme b/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme
index 5dd394ea..fb344f25 100755
--- a/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme
+++ b/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme
@@ -695,10 +695,10 @@ set_default POWERLEVEL9K_DIR_PATH_SEPARATOR "/"
 set_default POWERLEVEL9K_HOME_FOLDER_ABBREVIATION "~"
 set_default POWERLEVEL9K_DIR_SHOW_WRITABLE false
 prompt_dir() {
-  local tmp=$IFS
+  local tmp="$IFS"
   local IFS=""
   local current_path=$(pwd | sed -e "s,^$HOME,~,")
-  local IFS=$tmp
+  local IFS="$tmp"
   if [[ -n "$POWERLEVEL9K_SHORTEN_DIR_LENGTH" || "$POWERLEVEL9K_SHORTEN_STRATEGY" == "truncate_with_folder_marker" ]]; then
     set_default POWERLEVEL9K_SHORTEN_DELIMITER $'\U2026'