diff --git a/dev/make-distribution.sh b/dev/make-distribution.sh
index 22cdfd467cd9ccc5dc6826443eb86925746a16df..769cbda4fe3473144b9ddec661972cc692bb591d 100755
--- a/dev/make-distribution.sh
+++ b/dev/make-distribution.sh
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ fi
 # Build uber fat JAR
 cd "$SPARK_HOME"
 
-export MAVEN_OPTS="${MAVEN_OPTS:-Xmx2g -XX:ReservedCodeCacheSize=512m}"
+export MAVEN_OPTS="${MAVEN_OPTS:--Xmx2g -XX:ReservedCodeCacheSize=512m}"
 
 # Store the command as an array because $MVN variable might have spaces in it.
 # Normal quoting tricks don't work.