diff --git a/docker/falco/docker-entrypoint.sh b/docker/falco/docker-entrypoint.sh
index 4eaae1e7391..23b98d3c2ed 100755
--- a/docker/falco/docker-entrypoint.sh
+++ b/docker/falco/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -27,7 +27,9 @@ if [[ -z "${SKIP_DRIVER_LOADER}" ]]; then
         ln -s "$i" "/usr/src/$base"
     done
 
-    falco_driver_loader_option_arr=($FALCO_DRIVER_LOADER_OPTIONS)
+    # convert the optional space-separated env variable FALCO_DRIVER_LOADER_OPTIONS to array, prevent 
+    # shell expansion and use it as argument list for falco-driver-loader
+    read -a falco_driver_loader_option_arr <<< $FALCO_DRIVER_LOADER_OPTIONS
     /usr/bin/falco-driver-loader "${falco_driver_loader_option_arr[@]}"
 fi