diff --git a/tools/package/onos-run-karaf b/tools/package/onos-run-karaf
index 9efc725..f6daac1 100755
--- a/tools/package/onos-run-karaf
+++ b/tools/package/onos-run-karaf
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 
 # If the previous installation does not exist, or if the ONOS tar changed,
 # or if the user asked for clean run, start from scratch.
-if [ ! -d $ONOS_DIR -o $oldMD5 != $newMD5 -o -d $ONOS_DIR -a -n "$clean" ]; then
+if [ ! -d $ONOS_DIR -o "$oldMD5" != "$newMD5" -o -d $ONOS_DIR -a -n "$clean" ]; then
     echo "Running clean installation..."
 
     # Blitz previously unrolled onos- directory