diff --git a/utils/mariadb/files/mysqld.init b/utils/mariadb/files/mysqld.init
index 717e8d68d0..54fe53389e 100644
--- a/utils/mariadb/files/mysqld.init
+++ b/utils/mariadb/files/mysqld.init
@@ -9,12 +9,12 @@ NAME=mysqld
 LOGGER="/usr/bin/logger -p user.err -s -t $NAME --"
 [ -x "$LOGGER" ] || LOGGER="echo"
 
-MYSQLADMIN=/usr/bin/mysqladmin
-MYSQLD=/usr/bin/$NAME
-MYSQLDSAFE=/usr/bin/mysqld_safe
+MYSQLADMIN="/usr/bin/mysqladmin"
+MYSQLD="/usr/bin/$NAME"
+MYSQLDSAFE="/usr/bin/mysqld_safe"
 
 # mysqladmin likes to read /root/.my.cnf which could cause issues.
-export HOME=/etc/mysql
+export HOME="/etc/mysql"
 
 # Safeguard (relative paths, core dumps...)
 cd /
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ mysqld_status() {
 	fi
 
 	ps_alive=0
-	pidfile=$(mysqld_get_param pid-file)
-	if [ -f "$pidfile" ] && kill -0 $(cat "$pidfile") >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+	pidfile="$(mysqld_get_param pid-file)"
+	if [ -f "$pidfile" ] && kill -0 "$(cat "$pidfile")" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
 		ps_alive=1
 	fi
 
@@ -63,85 +63,85 @@ start() {
 
 	hint="please fix your server configuration in /etc/mysql/"
 
-	for i in $MYSQLD $MYSQLADMIN $MYSQLDSAFE; do
-		if [ ! -x $i ]; then
-			$LOGGER $i is missing
+	for i in "$MYSQLD" "$MYSQLADMIN" "$MYSQLDSAFE"; do
+		if [ ! -x "$i" ]; then
+			$LOGGER "$i is missing"
 			exit 1
 		fi
 	done
 
-	if [ ! -r $conf ]; then
-		$LOGGER $conf cannot be read
+	if [ ! -r "$conf" ]; then
+		$LOGGER "$conf cannot be read"
 		exit 1
 	fi
 
-	config_load $NAME
+	config_load "$NAME"
 
 	config_get_bool enabled general enabled 0
-	if [ $enabled -eq 0 ]; then
-		$LOGGER service not enabled in /etc/config/$NAME
+	if [ "$enabled" -eq 0 ]; then
+		$LOGGER "service not enabled in /etc/config/$NAME"
 		exit 1
 	fi
 
 	config_get options general options
 
-	datadir=$(mysqld_get_param datadir)
-	tmpdir=$(mysqld_get_param tmpdir)
+	datadir="$(mysqld_get_param datadir)"
+	tmpdir="$(mysqld_get_param tmpdir)"
 
 	if [ -z "$datadir" ]; then
-		$LOGGER datadir is not set
-		$LOGGER $hint
+		$LOGGER "datadir is not set"
+		$LOGGER "$hint"
 		exit 1
 	fi
 
 	if [ -z "$tmpdir" ]; then
-		$LOGGER tmpdir is not set
-		$LOGGER $hint
+		$LOGGER "tmpdir is not set"
+		$LOGGER "$hint"
 		exit 1
 	fi
 
 	if [ ! -f "$datadir/mysql/tables_priv.MAD" ]; then
 		args="--force"
-		basedir=$(mysqld_get_param basedir)
+		basedir="$(mysqld_get_param basedir)"
 		[ -n "$basedir" ] && args="$args --basedir=$basedir"
 
-		$LOGGER Cannot detect privileges table. You might need to run
-		$LOGGER \'mysql_install_db "$args"\'
-		$LOGGER to initialize the system tables.
+		$LOGGER "Cannot detect privileges table. You might need to run"
+		$LOGGER "'mysql_install_db \"$args\"'"
+		$LOGGER "to initialize the system tables."
 		exit 1
 	fi
 
 	# Start daemon
 	if mysqld_status check_alive; then
-		$LOGGER already running
+		$LOGGER "server is already running"
 	else
-		for i in $logdir $rundir; do
+		for i in "$logdir" "$rundir"; do
 			opts="-m 0750"
-			if ! [ -e $i ]; then
+			if ! [ -e "$i" ]; then
 				# $rundir needs to be accessible for
 				# clients
-				if [ $i = $rundir ]; then
+				if [ "$i" = "$rundir" ]; then
 					opts=
 				fi
-				mkdir -p $opts $i
-				[ -d $i ] && chown mariadb:mariadb $i
+				mkdir -p $opts "$i"
+				[ -d "$i" ] && chown mariadb:mariadb "$i"
 			fi
 		done
 
-		$MYSQLDSAFE $options >/dev/null 2>&1 &
+		"$MYSQLDSAFE" $options >/dev/null 2>&1 &
 	fi
 }
 
 stop() {
 	if ! mysqld_status check_dead; then
-		$MYSQLADMIN shutdown
+		"$MYSQLADMIN" shutdown
 	fi
 }
 
 reload() {
 	if mysqld_status check_alive; then
-		$MYSQLADMIN reload
+		"$MYSQLADMIN" reload
 	else
-		$LOGGER not running
+		$LOGGER "server is not running"
 	fi
 }