diff --git a/heat/templates/bin/_heat-purge-deleted-active.sh.tpl b/heat/templates/bin/_heat-purge-deleted-active.sh.tpl
index 9e3ec1f85e..a98be78697 100644
--- a/heat/templates/bin/_heat-purge-deleted-active.sh.tpl
+++ b/heat/templates/bin/_heat-purge-deleted-active.sh.tpl
@@ -18,4 +18,4 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 set -ex
 
-heat-manage purge_deleted -g minutes $1
+heat-manage purge_deleted -g minutes "$1"