diff --git a/lib/gpu/Makefile.hip b/lib/gpu/Makefile.hip
index 1c8e0683ca..1a829544af 100644
--- a/lib/gpu/Makefile.hip
+++ b/lib/gpu/Makefile.hip
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ $(OBJ_DIR)/lal_%.o: lal_%.cpp $(CUHS) $(ALL_H)
 
 $(LIB_DIR)/libgpu.a: $(OBJS)
 	$(AR) -crs $@ $(OBJS)
-	echo -e "export HIP_PLATFORM := $(HIP_PLATFORM)\n$(HIP_LIBS_TARGET)" > 'Makefile.lammps'   
+	printf "export HIP_PLATFORM := %s\n%s\n" "$(HIP_PLATFORM)" "$(HIP_LIBS_TARGET)" > Makefile.lammps
 
 # test app building