diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 8e1419a36..c549d92e4 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1031,7 +1031,7 @@ if test -n "$SCILAB"; then
   AC_MSG_CHECKING(for Scilab startup options)
   SCILABSTARTOPT="-nwni -nb"
   if test $SCILAB_VERSION -ge 54; then
-    SCILABSTARTOPT+=" -noatomsautoload"
+    SCILABSTARTOPT="$SCILABSTARTOPT -noatomsautoload"
   fi
   AC_MSG_RESULT($SCILABSTARTOPT)
 fi