diff --git a/ax_init_standard_project.m4 b/ax_init_standard_project.m4
index 439f83e..1afa453 100644
--- a/ax_init_standard_project.m4
+++ b/ax_init_standard_project.m4
@@ -1092,16 +1092,14 @@ AC_DEFUN([AX_DEB_DEPEND_IFEXISTS], [
 #  - parameter:
 #     $1 = package name
 AC_DEFUN([AX_DEB_BUILD_DEPEND], [
-  pkg="$1"
-  DEB_BUILD_DEPEND="${DEB_BUILD_DEPEND}, ${pkg}"
+  DEB_BUILD_DEPEND="${DEB_BUILD_DEPEND}, $1"
 ])
 
 # require package in debian/control.in append @DEB_DEPEND@ to Depends
 #  - parameter:
 #     $1 = package name
 AC_DEFUN([AX_DEB_DEPEND], [
-  pkg="$1"
-  DEB_DEPEND="${DEB_DEPEND}, ${pkg}"
+  DEB_DEPEND="${DEB_DEPEND}, $1"
 ])
 
 # require package in debian/control.in append @DEB_DEPEND@ to Depends