diff --git a/files/image_config/platform/rc.local b/files/image_config/platform/rc.local
index 2ec4a72e53..a89b800d12 100755
--- a/files/image_config/platform/rc.local
+++ b/files/image_config/platform/rc.local
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ for x in "$@"; do
 done
 }
 
-sonic_version=$(cat /etc/sonic/sonic_version.yml | grep build_version | cut -f2 -d" ")
+eval sonic_version=$(cat /etc/sonic/sonic_version.yml | grep build_version | cut -f2 -d" ")
 
 if [ -f /host/image-$sonic_version/platform/firsttime ]; then
 
diff --git a/installer/x86_64/install.sh b/installer/x86_64/install.sh
index eef0eeee25..0e43213451 100755
--- a/installer/x86_64/install.sh
+++ b/installer/x86_64/install.sh
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ if [ "$install_env" = "onie" ]; then
     
 elif [ "$install_env" = "sonic" ]; then
     demo_mnt="/host"
-    running_sonic_revision=$(cat /etc/sonic/sonic_version.yml | grep build_version | cut -f2 -d" ")
+    eval running_sonic_revision=$(cat /etc/sonic/sonic_version.yml | grep build_version | cut -f2 -d" ")
     # Prevent installing existing SONiC if it is running
     if [ "$image_dir" = "image-$running_sonic_revision" ]; then
         echo "Not installing SONiC version $running_sonic_revision, as current running SONiC has the same version"