diff --git a/docker/packager/deb/build.sh b/docker/packager/deb/build.sh
index a8072c5e78a..6450e21d289 100755
--- a/docker/packager/deb/build.sh
+++ b/docker/packager/deb/build.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ set -x -e
 
 ccache --show-stats ||:
 ccache --zero-stats ||:
-build/release --no-pbuilder "$ALIEN_PKGS" | ts '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S'
+read -ra ALIEN_PKGS <<< "${ALIEN_PKGS:-}"
+build/release --no-pbuilder "${ALIEN_PKGS[@]}" | ts '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S'
 mv /*.deb /output
 mv -- *.changes /output
 mv -- *.buildinfo /output
diff --git a/docker/packager/unbundled/build.sh b/docker/packager/unbundled/build.sh
index c94bd54d001..54575ab977c 100755
--- a/docker/packager/unbundled/build.sh
+++ b/docker/packager/unbundled/build.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ set -x -e
 
 ccache --show-stats ||:
 ccache --zero-stats ||:
-build/release --no-pbuilder "$ALIEN_PKGS" | ts '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S'
+read -ra ALIEN_PKGS <<< "${ALIEN_PKGS:-}"
+build/release --no-pbuilder "${ALIEN_PKGS[@]}" | ts '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S'
 mv /*.deb /output
 mv -- *.changes /output
 mv -- *.buildinfo /output