diff --git a/scripts/mkcompile_h b/scripts/mkcompile_h
index 7ad6bf7a09ff..f221ddf69080 100755
--- a/scripts/mkcompile_h
+++ b/scripts/mkcompile_h
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ else
 	TIMESTAMP=$KBUILD_BUILD_TIMESTAMP
 fi
 if test -z "$KBUILD_BUILD_USER"; then
-	LINUX_COMPILE_BY=`whoami`
+	LINUX_COMPILE_BY=$(whoami | sed 's/\\/\\\\/')
 else
 	LINUX_COMPILE_BY=$KBUILD_BUILD_USER
 fi