diff --git a/bin/background_jobs b/bin/background_jobs
index b58cdce4f9f..d6576291609 100755
--- a/bin/background_jobs
+++ b/bin/background_jobs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ start_sidekiq()
 load_ok()
 {
   sidekiq_pid=$(cat $sidekiq_pidfile)
-  if [ -z $sidekiq_pid ] ; then
+  if [ -z "$sidekiq_pid" ] ; then
     warn "Could not find a PID in $sidekiq_pidfile"
     exit 0
   fi
diff --git a/bin/web b/bin/web
index f6bacd6d784..67f236eb0bb 100755
--- a/bin/web
+++ b/bin/web
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ unicorn_config="$app_root/config/unicorn.rb"
 get_unicorn_pid()
 {
   local pid=$(cat $unicorn_pidfile)
-  if [ -z $pid ] ; then
+  if [ -z "$pid" ] ; then
     echo "Could not find a PID in $unicorn_pidfile"
     exit 1
   fi