diff --git a/functions-common b/functions-common
index 349c765f51..af95bfb879 100644
--- a/functions-common
+++ b/functions-common
@@ -228,9 +228,9 @@ function err {
     xtrace=$(set +o | grep xtrace)
     set +o xtrace
     local msg="[ERROR] ${BASH_SOURCE[2]}:$1 $2"
-    echo $msg 1>&2;
+    echo "$msg" 1>&2;
     if [[ -n ${LOGDIR} ]]; then
-        echo $msg >> "${LOGDIR}/error.log"
+        echo "$msg" >> "${LOGDIR}/error.log"
     fi
     $xtrace
     return $exitcode
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ function warn {
     xtrace=$(set +o | grep xtrace)
     set +o xtrace
     local msg="[WARNING] ${BASH_SOURCE[2]}:$1 $2"
-    echo $msg
+    echo "$msg"
     $xtrace
     return $exitcode
 }
@@ -1444,11 +1444,11 @@ function _common_systemd_pitfalls {
         read -r -d '' msg << EOF || true  # read returns 1 for EOF, but it is ok here
 You are trying to use run_process with sudo, this is not going to work under systemd.
 
-If you need to run a service as a user other than $STACK_USER call it with:
+If you need to run a service as a user other than \$STACK_USER call it with:
 
    run_process \$name \$cmd \$group \$user
 EOF
-        die $LINENO $msg
+        die $LINENO "$msg"
     fi
 
     if [[ ! "$cmd" =~ ^/ ]]; then
@@ -1458,7 +1458,7 @@ start under systemd.
 
 Please update your run_process stanza to have an absolute path.
 EOF
-        die $LINENO $msg
+        die $LINENO "$msg"
     fi
 
 }