diff --git a/manifests/init.pp b/manifests/init.pp
index 70e2ee5..3cde98d 100644
--- a/manifests/init.pp
+++ b/manifests/init.pp
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
       # Value may contain '|' and others, we need to quote to be safe
       # Convert any numerical to expected string, 0 instead of '0' would fail
       # lint:ignore:only_variable_string Convert numerical to string
-      $qvalue = shellquote("${value}")
+      $qvalue = shellquote(regsubst("${value}", '\W+', "\t", 'G'))
       # lint:endignore
       exec { "enforce-sysctl-value-${qtitle}":
           unless  => "/usr/bin/test \"$(/sbin/sysctl -n ${qtitle})\" = ${qvalue}",