diff --git a/functions/utilities.zsh b/functions/utilities.zsh
index 9f1ea53e..a539fc6e 100644
--- a/functions/utilities.zsh
+++ b/functions/utilities.zsh
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ function truncatePath() {
     # if the path is in the home folder, don't add a "/" to the start
     [[ $1 != "~"* ]] && trunc_path='/' || trunc_path=''
     # split the path into an array using "/" as the delimiter and remove "~/"
-    local paths=(${(s:/:)1})
+    local paths=(${(s:/:)${1}})
     # declare locals for the directory being tested and its length
     local test_dir test_dir_length
     # do the needed truncation