diff --git a/src/journal/meson.build b/src/journal/meson.build
index a23f6a712c..db4d598e72 100644
--- a/src/journal/meson.build
+++ b/src/journal/meson.build
@@ -131,8 +131,8 @@ meson.add_install_script(
         mkdir_p.format('/var/log/journal'))
 meson.add_install_script(
         'sh', '-c',
-        'chown 0:0 $DESTDIR/var/log/journal &&
-         chmod 755 $DESTDIR/var/log/journal || :')
+        '''chown 0:0 $DESTDIR/var/log/journal &&
+         chmod 755 $DESTDIR/var/log/journal || :''')
 if get_option('adm-group')
         meson.add_install_script(
                 'sh', '-c',