diff --git a/autoload/vimtex/compiler/tectonic.vim b/autoload/vimtex/compiler/tectonic.vim
index 73f4d401e2..e3870950c0 100644
--- a/autoload/vimtex/compiler/tectonic.vim
+++ b/autoload/vimtex/compiler/tectonic.vim
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ function! s:compiler.__build_cmd() abort dict " {{{1
         \ : fnamemodify(self.state.tex, ':p:h')
 
   return 'tectonic ' . join(self.options)
-        \ . ' --outdir=' . l:outdir
+        \ . ' --outdir=' . fnameescape(l:outdir)
         \ . ' ' . vimtex#util#shellescape(self.state.base)
 endfunction