diff --git a/ejabberdctl.template b/ejabberdctl.template
index a5dc665a7..5b34ebee4 100755
--- a/ejabberdctl.template
+++ b/ejabberdctl.template
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ iexdebug()
          --erl `shell_escape \"$ERLANG_OPTS\"` \
          --erl `shell_escape \"${ARGS[@]}\"` \
          --erl `shell_escape_str \"$@\"`"
-    $EXEC_CMD "ERL_PATH=$\"$ERL\" $CMD"
+    $EXEC_CMD "ERL_PATH=\"$ERL\" $CMD"
 }
 
 # start interactive server