diff --git a/vbox/configure.ac b/vbox/configure.ac
index 670423e7..44fd0c0e 100644
--- a/vbox/configure.ac
+++ b/vbox/configure.ac
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ AC_PREFIX_DEFAULT([/usr])
 
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(PACKAGE, "${PACKAGE_NAME}", [Name of package])
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(VERSION, "${PACKAGE_VERSION}", [Version number of package])
-AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(VERDATE, [17-NOV-98], [date the version was created])
+AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(VERDATE, ["17-NOV-98"], [date the version was created])
 
 AC_SUBST(PACKAGE)
 AC_SUBST(VERSION)