diff --git a/handlers/rsync.in b/handlers/rsync.in
index d93411a7cdd7255578529a96cf08aff629c2f435..567f8a751e3fa5392dd9572ff9863f8cb24c8afa 100644
--- a/handlers/rsync.in
+++ b/handlers/rsync.in
@@ -893,7 +893,7 @@ function set_rsync_options {
 
   if [ "$from" == "local" ] || [ "$dest" == "local" ]; then
     # rsync options for local sources or destinations
-    rsync_options="$rsync_options"
+    rsync_options=($rsync_options)
   fi
 
   if [ "$from" == "remote" ] || [ "$dest" == "remote" ]; then