diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index d07b09b48..322cd1d2e 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -864,6 +864,7 @@ if env['HAS_SUNDIALS'] and env['use_sundials'] != 'n':
 
 env = conf.Finish()
 
+env['python_cmd_esc'] = quoted(env['python_cmd'])
 
 # Python 2 Package Settings
 cython_min_version = LooseVersion('0.17')
@@ -1253,7 +1254,7 @@ for cti in mglob(env, 'data/inputs', 'cti'):
     outName = os.path.splitext(cti.name)[0] + '.xml'
     convertedInputFiles.add(outName)
     build(env.Command('build/data/%s' % outName, cti.path,
-                      '$python_cmd interfaces/python/ctml_writer.py $SOURCE $TARGET'))
+                      '$python_cmd_esc interfaces/python/ctml_writer.py $SOURCE $TARGET'))
 
 
 # Copy input files which are not present as cti:
diff --git a/interfaces/cython/SConscript b/interfaces/cython/SConscript
index c5f96adb1..61833d771 100644
--- a/interfaces/cython/SConscript
+++ b/interfaces/cython/SConscript
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ if localenv['python_package'] == 'new':
     build(make_setup)
 
     build_base = ('cd interfaces/cython &&'
-                 ' $python_cmd setup2.py %s'
+                 ' $python_cmd_esc setup2.py %s'
                  ' --build-lib=../../build/python2'
                  ' --build-temp=../../build/temp-py2'
                  + compilerOpt)
diff --git a/src/python/SConscript b/src/python/SConscript
index d114baf51..928db3f28 100644
--- a/src/python/SConscript
+++ b/src/python/SConscript
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@ elif localenv['python_package'] == 'minimal':
 
 moddir = pjoin('interfaces', 'python')
 localenv.AddPostAction(make_setup,
-                       'cd %s && $python_cmd setup.py build %s' % (moddir,
-                                                                   extraArgs))
+                       'cd %s && $python_cmd_esc setup.py build %s' % (moddir,
+                                                                       extraArgs))
 
 # Install the Python module
 if localenv['python_prefix'] == 'USER':
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ else:
 
 if localenv['PYTHON_INSTALLER'] == 'direct':
     mod_inst = install(localenv.Command, 'dummy', pymodule,
-                       'cd %s && $python_cmd setup.py install %s' % (moddir,extra) +
+                       'cd %s && $python_cmd_esc setup.py install %s' % (moddir,extra) +
                        ' --record ../../build/python-installed-files.txt')
     global_env = env
     def find_module_dir(target, source, env):
@@ -104,11 +104,11 @@ if localenv['PYTHON_INSTALLER'] == 'direct':
 
 elif localenv['PYTHON_INSTALLER'] == 'debian':
     install(localenv.Command, 'dummy', pymodule,
-            'cd %s && $python_cmd setup.py install %s --install-layout=deb --no-compile' % (moddir,extra))
+            'cd %s && $python_cmd_esc setup.py install %s --install-layout=deb --no-compile' % (moddir,extra))
     env['python_module_loc'] = '<unspecified>'
 elif localenv['PYTHON_INSTALLER'] == 'binary':
     install(localenv.Command, 'dummy', pymodule,
-            'cd %s && $python_cmd setup.py bdist_msi --dist-dir=../..' % moddir +
+            'cd %s && $python_cmd_esc setup.py bdist_msi --dist-dir=../..' % moddir +
             ' --target-version=' + distutils.sysconfig.get_python_version())
     env['python_module_loc'] = '<unspecified>'