diff --git a/src/sonic-build-hooks/hooks/apt-get b/src/sonic-build-hooks/hooks/apt-get
index db75ddf5c4..58563ce36b 100755
--- a/src/sonic-build-hooks/hooks/apt-get
+++ b/src/sonic-build-hooks/hooks/apt-get
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ if [ "$INSTALL" == y ]; then
     [ "$lock_result" == y ] && release_apt_installation_lock
     exit $command_result
 else
-    if [[ "$1" == "purge" || "$@" == *" purge "* || "$@" == *" remove "* ]]; then
+    if [[ " $@ " == *" purge "* || " $@ " == *" remove "* ]]; then
       # When running the purge command, collect the debian versions
       dpkg-query -W -f '${Package}==${Version}\n' >> $POST_VERSION_PATH/purge-versions-deb
       chmod a+wr $POST_VERSION_PATH/purge-versions-deb