https://bz.apache.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=64927
--- Comment #3 from Cosmin Duna <cosmin_d...@sync.ro> --- I tried to use the "line" attribute with """ entities and I modified my build file in this: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <project basedir="" name="Buid DITA Project" default="dist"> <target name="dist" xmlns:if="ant:if" xmlns:unless="ant:unless"> <exec executable="cmd" failonerror="yes"> <arg line="/C "${script.location}" --project "${project.file}""/> </exec> </target> </project> And I had the same problem. If only one variable has white-space in path everything works fine. When both variables have white-space this error appears: C:\Users\cosmin_duna\Downloads\apache-ant-1.10.9\bin>ant.bat -f "D:\test\build.xml" "-Dscript.location=D:\test\Directory With White Spaces\test.bat" "-Dproject.file=D:\test\project file.xml" Buildfile: D:\test\build.xml dist: [exec] 'D:\test\Directory' is not recognized as an internal or external command, [exec] operable program or batch file. BUILD FAILED D:\test\build.xml:4: exec returned: 1 Total time: 0 seconds -- You are receiving this mail because: You are the assignee for the bug.