diff --git a/modules/luci-base/luasrc/util.lua b/modules/luci-base/luasrc/util.lua
index 5bf0beb6c2..2956aadcf3 100644
--- a/modules/luci-base/luasrc/util.lua
+++ b/modules/luci-base/luasrc/util.lua
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ end
 -- command line parameter).
 function shellsqescape(value)
    local res
-   res, _ = string.gsub(res, "'", "'\\''")
+   res, _ = string.gsub(value, "'", "'\\''")
    return res
 end