diff --git a/brian2/devices/cpp_standalone/device.py b/brian2/devices/cpp_standalone/device.py
index 151384080..a4050a512 100644
--- a/brian2/devices/cpp_standalone/device.py
+++ b/brian2/devices/cpp_standalone/device.py
@@ -1554,10 +1554,20 @@ def build(
         libraries = self.libraries + prefs["codegen.cpp.libraries"] + codeobj_libraries
 
         compiler_obj = ccompiler.new_compiler(compiler=compiler)
+
+        # Distutils does not use the shell, so it does not need to quote filenames/paths
+        # Since we include the compiler flags in the makefile, we need to quote them
+        include_dirs = [f'"{include_dir}"' for include_dir in include_dirs]
+        library_dirs = [f'"{library_dir}"' for library_dir in library_dirs]
+        runtime_library_dirs = [
+            f'"{runtime_dir}"' for runtime_dir in runtime_library_dirs
+        ]
+
         compiler_flags = (
             ccompiler.gen_preprocess_options(define_macros, include_dirs)
             + extra_compile_args
         )
+
         linker_flags = (
             ccompiler.gen_lib_options(
                 compiler_obj,