diff --git a/init/csh.in b/init/csh.in
index 568a5391..e102fd4e 100644
--- a/init/csh.in
+++ b/init/csh.in
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ if ($?noglob) then
   set prefix  = "$prefix""set noglob;"
   set postfix = "$postfix""unset noglob;"
 endif
-$postfix = "set _exit=$status; $postfix; test 0 = $_exit;"
+set postfix = "set _exit="'$status'"; $postfix; test 0 = "'$_exit;'
 
 @VERSIONING@alias module $prefix'eval `'$exec_prefix'/bin/modulecmd '$modules_shell' '$histchar'*`; '$postfix
 @NOTVERSIONING@alias module $prefix'eval `'$exec_prefix'/modulecmd '$modules_shell' '$histchar'*`; '$postfix