diff --git a/ack.json b/ack.json
index 2581cf86ef..d76afa7b0e 100644
--- a/ack.json
+++ b/ack.json
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
     "hash": "fd0617585b88517a3d41d3d206c1dc38058c57b90dfd88c278049a41aeb5be38",
     "bin": "ack.bat",
     "depends": "perl",
-    "pre_install": "Set-Content -Value '@perl.exe %~dp0ack-single-file %*' -Path $dir\\ack.bat",
+    "pre_install": "Set-Content -Value '@perl.exe %~dp0ack-single-file %*' -Path \"$dir\\ack.bat\"",
     "checkver": {
         "url": "https://beyondgrep.com/install/",
         "re": "The current stable version of ack is version ([\\d.]+),"
diff --git a/bzip2.json b/bzip2.json
index 0f2cca63fc..0612ed56e9 100644
--- a/bzip2.json
+++ b/bzip2.json
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@
         "bzip2.exe",
         "bzip2recover.exe"
     ],
-    "pre_install": "cp $dir\\bzip2.exe $dir\\bunzip2.exe; cp $dir\\bzip2.exe $dir\\bzcat.exe",
+    "pre_install": "cp \"$dir\\bzip2.exe\" \"$dir\\bunzip2.exe\"; cp \"$dir\\bzip2.exe\" \"$dir\\bzcat.exe\"",
     "checkver": "The current version is <b>([\\d.]+)"
 }
diff --git a/composer.json b/composer.json
index 428affa03e..1fce8daeee 100644
--- a/composer.json
+++ b/composer.json
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@
     },
     "env_add_path": "home\\vendor\\bin",
     "pre_install": "
-        echo 'if($args -eq \"selfupdate\" -or $args -eq \"self-update\") { & scoop update composer }' | out-file $dir\\composer.ps1
-        echo 'else { & php (join-path \"$psscriptroot\" \"composer.phar\") @args }' | out-file $dir\\composer.ps1 -append
+        echo 'if($args -eq \"selfupdate\" -or $args -eq \"self-update\") { & scoop update composer }' | out-file \"$dir\\composer.ps1\"
+        echo 'else { & php (join-path \"$psscriptroot\" \"composer.phar\") @args }' | out-file \"$dir\\composer.ps1\" -append
     ",
     "post_install": "
         $och = \"$env:APPDATA\\Composer\"
diff --git a/dosbox.json b/dosbox.json
index c2a19a12ae..1e6ecb8971 100644
--- a/dosbox.json
+++ b/dosbox.json
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
     "installer": {
         "args": [
             "/S",
-            "/D=$dir"
+            "/D=\"$dir\""
         ]
     },
     "bin": [
diff --git a/erlang.json b/erlang.json
index b088c5777d..85d3741dec 100644
--- a/erlang.json
+++ b/erlang.json
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
     "installer": {
         "args": [
             "/S",
-            "/D=$dir"
+            "/D=\"$dir\""
         ]
     },
     "uninstaller": {
diff --git a/git-up.json b/git-up.json
index a9aaed2f4b..b9b3fcc5f0 100644
--- a/git-up.json
+++ b/git-up.json
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
     "extract_dir": "PyGitUp-1.4.6",
     "depends": "python",
     "post_install": "
-        pushd $dir
+        pushd \"$dir\"
         try {
             scoop reset python
             iex \"$(scoop which python) setup.py install\"
diff --git a/haskell.json b/haskell.json
index 3d0a11999d..cb286faad2 100644
--- a/haskell.json
+++ b/haskell.json
@@ -8,7 +8,10 @@
         }
     },
     "installer": {
-        "args": "/S /D=$dir"
+        "args": [
+            "/S",
+            "/D=\"$dir\""
+        ]
     },
     "uninstaller": {
         "file": "Uninstall.exe",
diff --git a/jetbrains-toolbox.json b/jetbrains-toolbox.json
index d4c308707b..d10491352f 100644
--- a/jetbrains-toolbox.json
+++ b/jetbrains-toolbox.json
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
     "installer": {
         "args": [
             "/S",
-            "/D=$dir"
+            "/D=\"$dir\""
         ]
     },
     "uninstaller": {
diff --git a/julia.json b/julia.json
index 21906728fc..35b3f8d66f 100644
--- a/julia.json
+++ b/julia.json
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
         "file": "julia-installer.exe",
         "args": [
             "/S",
-            "/D=$dir"
+            "/D=\"$dir\""
         ]
     },
     "uninstaller": {
diff --git a/llvm.json b/llvm.json
index 69772d8060..0bab440db1 100644
--- a/llvm.json
+++ b/llvm.json
@@ -13,7 +13,10 @@
         }
     },
     "installer": {
-        "args": "/S /D=$dir"
+        "args": [
+            "/S",
+            "/D=\"$dir\""
+        ]
     },
     "uninstaller": {
         "file": "Uninstall.exe",
diff --git a/lynx.json b/lynx.json
index fa500d20e3..b263262465 100644
--- a/lynx.json
+++ b/lynx.json
@@ -6,6 +6,6 @@
     "hash": "552bc68afd2ff9a5de88f26d76f55dd8697cf6082c6afb01b3d1a9942f4d3ee0",
     "bin": "lynx.ps1",
     "pre_install": "
-        \"$dir\\lynx.exe --cfg=$dir\\lynx.cfg\" | out-file -enc oem $dir\\lynx.ps1
+        \"\\\"$dir\\lynx.exe\\\" --cfg=\\\"$dir\\lynx.cfg\\\"\" | out-file -enc oem \"$dir\\lynx.ps1\"
     "
 }
diff --git a/nano.json b/nano.json
index ffcd95105d..7b3c064a2b 100644
--- a/nano.json
+++ b/nano.json
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
     "hash": "c012456b9f29e488b0e9a688aa43a34326dd573f9e99765cbdac2b81a4bc1060",
     "bin": "nano.exe",
     "extract_dir": "nano-2.5.3-win32",
-    "post_install": "if (-not (Test-Path ~/nano.rc)) { Copy-Item $dir/nano.rc ~/nano.rc }",
+    "post_install": "if (-not (Test-Path ~/nano.rc)) { Copy-Item \"$dir/nano.rc\" ~/nano.rc }",
     "checkver": "Latest Version\\s+([\\d.]+)",
     "notes": "
         You can configure nano editor by editing the configuration file nano.rc
diff --git a/nim.json b/nim.json
index 5d582dfb5c..b133afb589 100644
--- a/nim.json
+++ b/nim.json
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     "extract_dir": "nim-0.17.2",
     "post_install": "
         # Copy Nimble package
-        Copy-Item -Recurse $dir\\dist\\nimble\\src\\nimblepkg $dir\\bin
+        Copy-Item -Recurse \"$dir\\dist\\nimble\\src\\nimblepkg\" \"$dir\\bin\"
     ",
     "bin": [
         "bin\\c2nim.exe",
diff --git a/nmap.json b/nmap.json
index 09e77190c2..70c486822f 100644
--- a/nmap.json
+++ b/nmap.json
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@
     "hash": "5dbe89981a8d567e5b9b935fbf8019885e7347f45c5af69cab21e8dcafee3393",
     "extract_dir": "nmap",
     "installer": {
-        "args": "/S /D=$dir"
+        "args": [
+            "/S",
+            "/D=\"$dir\""
+        ]
     },
     "uninstaller": {
         "file": "Uninstall.exe",
diff --git a/node-chakracore.json b/node-chakracore.json
index 7c1a799b49..27cd7fe004 100644
--- a/node-chakracore.json
+++ b/node-chakracore.json
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
     ],
     "post_install": "
         # Set npm prefix to install modules inside bin and npm cache so they persist
-        Set-Content -Value \"prefix=$persist_dir\\bin`ncache=$persist_dir\\cache\" -Path $dir\\node_modules\\npm\\npmrc
+        Set-Content -Value \"prefix=\\\"$persist_dir\\bin\\\"`ncache=\\\"$persist_dir\\cache\\\"\" -Path \"$dir\\node_modules\\npm\\npmrc\"
     ",
     "checkver": {
         "url": "https://nodejs.org/download/chakracore-release/index.json",
diff --git a/nodejs-lts.json b/nodejs-lts.json
index c795851b39..d8d312b7bd 100644
--- a/nodejs-lts.json
+++ b/nodejs-lts.json
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
     ],
     "post_install": "
         # Set npm prefix to install modules inside bin and npm cache so they persist
-        Set-Content -Value \"prefix=$persist_dir\\bin`ncache=$persist_dir\\cache\" -Path $dir\\node_modules\\npm\\npmrc
+        Set-Content -Value \"prefix=\\\"$persist_dir\\bin\\\"`ncache=\\\"$persist_dir\\cache\\\"\" -Path \"$dir\\node_modules\\npm\\npmrc\"
     ",
     "checkver": {
         "url": "https://nodejs.org/en/download/",
diff --git a/nodejs.json b/nodejs.json
index 2536d0cc49..c7cc1d936a 100644
--- a/nodejs.json
+++ b/nodejs.json
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
     ],
     "post_install": "
         # Set npm prefix to install modules inside bin and npm cache so they persist
-        Set-Content -Value \"prefix=$persist_dir\\bin`ncache=$persist_dir\\cache\" -Path $dir\\node_modules\\npm\\npmrc
+        Set-Content -Value \"prefix=\\\"$persist_dir\\bin\\\"`ncache=\\\"$persist_dir\\cache\\\"\" -Path \"$dir\\node_modules\\npm\\npmrc\"
     ",
     "checkver": {
         "url": "https://nodejs.org/dist/latest/",
diff --git a/nvm.json b/nvm.json
index 7ab87c75bb..2233a3d7af 100644
--- a/nvm.json
+++ b/nvm.json
@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@
     "architecture": {
         "64bit": {
             "pre_install": "if(!(test-path \"$dir\\settings.txt\")) {
-                write-output \"root: $persist_dir\\nodejs`r`narch: 64`r`nproxy: none\" | Out-File -encoding \"ASCII\" $dir\\settings.txt
+                write-output \"root: $persist_dir\\nodejs`r`narch: 64`r`nproxy: none\" | Out-File -encoding \"ASCII\" \"$dir\\settings.txt\"
             }"
         },
         "32bit": {
             "pre_install": "if(!(test-path \"$dir\\settings.txt\")) {
-                write-output \"root: $persist_dir\\nodejs`r`narch: 32`r`nproxy: none\" | Out-File -encoding \"ASCII\" $dir\\settings.txt
+                write-output \"root: $persist_dir\\nodejs`r`narch: 32`r`nproxy: none\" | Out-File -encoding \"ASCII\" \"$dir\\settings.txt\"
             }"
         }
     },
diff --git a/perl.json b/perl.json
index 89d1a7921f..2d3b7a4dd5 100644
--- a/perl.json
+++ b/perl.json
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
         # enable standard idiomatic access to user's home directory
         ## remove HomeDir section from portable.perl (disables Portable.pm override of File::HomeDir)
         ## NOTE: conversion to byte[] avoids adding an extra trailing newline to the output file
-        [byte[]][char[]]((Get-Content -raw $dir\\portable.perl) -replace \"(?ms)^HomeDir:.*?^(?=\\S)\",\"\") | Set-Content $dir\\portable.perl -encoding byte
+        [byte[]][char[]]((Get-Content -raw \"$dir\\portable.perl\") -replace \"(?ms)^HomeDir:.*?^(?=\\S)\",\"\") | Set-Content \"$dir\\portable.perl\" -encoding byte
     ",
     "env_add_path": [
         "perl\\site\\bin",
diff --git a/r.json b/r.json
index 1b390955d1..46809aa46e 100644
--- a/r.json
+++ b/r.json
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@
         "64bit": {
             "url": "https://cran.rstudio.com/bin/windows/base/R-3.4.3-win.exe",
             "hash": "7d46cd1de979cd0ef1a6e8de0e1a35223d1304d8953e4cd0d414153852ce684b",
-            "pre_install": "copy-item -recurse $dir\\bin\\x64 $dir\\bin\\curr_arch"
+            "pre_install": "copy-item -recurse \"$dir\\bin\\x64\" \"$dir\\bin\\curr_arch\""
         },
         "32bit": {
             "url": "https://cran.rstudio.com/bin/windows/base/R-3.4.3-win.exe",
             "hash": "7d46cd1de979cd0ef1a6e8de0e1a35223d1304d8953e4cd0d414153852ce684b",
-            "pre_install": "copy-item -recurse $dir\\bin\\i386 $dir\\bin\\curr_arch"
+            "pre_install": "copy-item -recurse \"$dir\\bin\\i386\" \"$dir\\bin\\curr_arch\""
         }
     },
     "innosetup": true,
diff --git a/ruby19.json b/ruby19.json
index 843fafc8ea..a8c67db11f 100644
--- a/ruby19.json
+++ b/ruby19.json
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
         "devkit"
     ],
     "env_add_path": "bin",
-    "post_install": "pushd $dir\\devkit;ruby dk.rb init > $null;echo \"- $dir\" | out-file config.yml -a -enc default; ruby dk.rb install;popd;",
+    "post_install": "pushd \"$dir\\devkit\";ruby dk.rb init > $null;echo \"- $dir\" | out-file config.yml -a -enc default; ruby dk.rb install;popd;",
     "checkver": {
         "url": "https://bintray.com/package/generalTab?pkgPath=/oneclick/rubyinstaller/rubyinstaller",
         "re": "rubyinstaller/(1.9[\\d.]+-p[\\d]+)"
diff --git a/smartmontools.json b/smartmontools.json
index 3accfeaa54..08aa1c08c1 100644
--- a/smartmontools.json
+++ b/smartmontools.json
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
     "installer": {
         "args": [
             "/S",
-            "/D=$dir"
+            "/D=\"$dir\""
         ]
     },
     "checkver": {
diff --git a/unrar.json b/unrar.json
index 03ac7b006d..33a0935925 100644
--- a/unrar.json
+++ b/unrar.json
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     "installer": {
         "args": [
             "-s",
-            "-d$dir"
+            "-d\"$dir\""
         ]
     },
     "checkver": {
diff --git a/wget.json b/wget.json
index 2833279eaa..dd476572b0 100644
--- a/wget.json
+++ b/wget.json
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
     },
     "bin": "wget.exe",
     "depends": "cacert",
-    "post_install": "\"ca_certificate=$(appdir cacert)\\current\\cacert.pem\" | out-file $dir\\wget.ini -encoding default",
+    "post_install": "\"ca_certificate=$(appdir cacert)\\current\\cacert.pem\" | out-file \"$dir\\wget.ini\" -encoding default",
     "checkver": "<title>GNU Wget ([\\d.]+) for Windows",
     "autoupdate": {
         "architecture": {