diff --git a/spot.sh b/spot.sh
index 25f0cd0..b25496c 100755
--- a/spot.sh
+++ b/spot.sh
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ fi
 
 # run search
 eval "find $dir $findopt -type f $exclude -print0" \
-  | GREP_COLOR="1;33;40" xargs -0 grep "${grepopt[@]}" -e "$@" \
+  | GREP_COLOR="1;33;40" xargs -0 grep "${grepopt[@]}" -e "`echo $@`" \
   | sed "s/^\([^:]*:\)\(.*\)/  \\
 $cyan\1$reset  \\
 \2 /" \