diff --git a/src/vmm_mad/remotes/kvm/shutdown b/src/vmm_mad/remotes/kvm/shutdown
index 936f80cb71..2e6b1099c3 100755
--- a/src/vmm_mad/remotes/kvm/shutdown
+++ b/src/vmm_mad/remotes/kvm/shutdown
@@ -48,13 +48,13 @@ function monitor
     [ "x$?" != "x0" ]
 }
 
-exec_and_log "virsh --connect $LIBVIRT_URI shutdown \"$deploy_id\"" \
+exec_and_log "virsh --connect $LIBVIRT_URI shutdown $deploy_id" \
     "Could not shutdown $deploy_id"
 
 retry $TIMEOUT monitor
 
 force_shutdown "$deploy_id" \
-    "virsh --connect $LIBVIRT_URI destroy \"$deploy_id\""
+    "virsh --connect $LIBVIRT_URI destroy $deploy_id"
 
 sleep 4
 
diff --git a/src/vmm_mad/remotes/xen/shutdown b/src/vmm_mad/remotes/xen/shutdown
index 9ec12b8c87..69aff84621 100755
--- a/src/vmm_mad/remotes/xen/shutdown
+++ b/src/vmm_mad/remotes/xen/shutdown
@@ -39,5 +39,5 @@ exec_and_log "$XM_SHUTDOWN $deploy_id" \
 
 retry $TIMEOUT monitor
 
-force_shutdown "$deploy_id" "$XM_CANCEL \"$deploy_id\""
+force_shutdown "$deploy_id" "$XM_CANCEL $deploy_id"