diff --git a/test/shell/pvmove-abort-all.sh b/test/shell/pvmove-abort-all.sh
index 0398c75d4..de6d8c9ac 100644
--- a/test/shell/pvmove-abort-all.sh
+++ b/test/shell/pvmove-abort-all.sh
@@ -51,11 +51,11 @@ if test -z "$backgroundarg" ; then
         lvs -a $vg $vg1
 else
 	"${cmd1[@]}"
-	aux add_to_kill_list ${cmd1[*]} -P 1
+	aux add_to_kill_list "${cmd1[*]}" -P 1
 	"${cmd2[@]}"
-	aux add_to_kill_list ${cmd2[*]} -P 1
+	aux add_to_kill_list "${cmd2[*]}" -P 1
 	"${cmd3[@]}"
-	aux add_to_kill_list ${cmd3[*]} -P 1
+	aux add_to_kill_list "${cmd3[*]}" -P 1
 fi
 
 # test removal of all pvmove LVs
diff --git a/test/shell/pvmove-abort.sh b/test/shell/pvmove-abort.sh
index 72f6f96d1..3165c6f5f 100644
--- a/test/shell/pvmove-abort.sh
+++ b/test/shell/pvmove-abort.sh
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@ if test -z "$backgroundarg" ; then
 	aux wait_pvmove_lv_ready "$vg-pvmove1"
 else
 	"${cmd1[@]}"
-	aux add_to_kill_list ${cmd1[*]} -P 1
+	aux add_to_kill_list "${cmd1[*]}" -P 1
 	"${cmd2[@]}"
-	aux add_to_kill_list ${cmd2[*]} -P 1
+	aux add_to_kill_list "${cmd2[*]}" -P 1
 fi
 
 # remove specific device
diff --git a/test/shell/pvmove-basic.sh b/test/shell/pvmove-basic.sh
index e93a04e7e..d5b7845e6 100644
--- a/test/shell/pvmove-basic.sh
+++ b/test/shell/pvmove-basic.sh
@@ -334,9 +334,9 @@ check_and_cleanup_lvs_
 
 #COMM "pvmove abort"
 restore_lvs_
-cmd=$(echo -n pvmove $mode -i100 -b "$dev1" "$dev3")
-$cmd
-aux add_to_kill_list "$cmd" "-P 1"
+cmd=(pvmove $mode -i100 -b "$dev1" "$dev3")
+"${cmd[@]}"
+aux add_to_kill_list "${cmd[*]}" -P 1
 pvmove --abort
 check_and_cleanup_lvs_