diff --git a/bin/smartlink b/bin/smartlink
index 94a77253eabc4a413261cb0712898e3e75c0738e..9e62c53b01a949fc34cfd679b3c88ed00b281b2f 100755
--- a/bin/smartlink
+++ b/bin/smartlink
@@ -147,4 +147,7 @@ fi
 
 # Used to be exec, but Digital-Unix's stupid sh has buggy variable-expansion.
 # /grubba
-eval $LINKER $LDOPTS
+# Used to be eval, but then quoting of quotes doesn't work.
+# /grubba
+$LINKER $LDOPTS
+exit $?