diff --git a/kiss b/kiss
index 946ad12..ca93221 100755
--- a/kiss
+++ b/kiss
@@ -952,9 +952,9 @@ pkg_install_files() {
         # a 1-9 loop with the second digit being the value of the field.
         for c in 14 22 31 44 52 61 74 82 91; do rwx=${rwx#?}
             case $rwx in
-                [rwx]*): $((o+=${c#?})) ;;
-                 [st]*): $((o+=1)) $((b+=4 / (${c%?}/3))) ;;
-                 [ST]*): $((b+=1)) ;;
+                [rwx]*): "$((o+=${c#?}))" ;;
+                 [st]*): "$((o+=1))" "$((b+=4 / (${c%?}/3)))" ;;
+                 [ST]*): "$((b+=1))" ;;
             esac
 
             [ "$((${c%?} % 3))" = 0 ] && oct=$oct$o o=0