diff --git a/src/paccache.sh.in b/src/paccache.sh.in
index af901f4..1311fd7 100644
--- a/src/paccache.sh.in
+++ b/src/paccache.sh.in
@@ -391,7 +391,8 @@ candidates=("${candtemp[@]}")
 unset candtemp
 
 # do this before we destroy anything
-totalsaved=$(@SIZECMD@ "${candidates[@]}" | awk '{ sum += $1 } END { print sum }')
+totalsaved=$(printf '%s\0' "${candidates[@]}" | xargs -0 @SIZECMD@ |
+		awk '{ sum += $1 } END { print sum }')
 
 # Exit immediately if a pipeline returns non-zero.
 set -o errexit