diff --git a/bin/foamCleanPath b/bin/foamCleanPath
index 85b93f8f57..1a441400cf 100755
--- a/bin/foamCleanPath
+++ b/bin/foamCleanPath
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ do
     if [ -e "$dir" ]
     then
         #- no duplicate dirs
-        duplicate=$(echo " $dirList " | sed -ne "s@ $dir @DUP@p")
+        duplicate=$(echo " $dirList " | sed -ne "s: $dir :DUP:p")
 
         if [ ! "$duplicate" ]
         then