diff --git a/install-compiled.sh b/install-compiled.sh
index c0855d0..02d16fd 100755
--- a/install-compiled.sh
+++ b/install-compiled.sh
@@ -205,7 +205,8 @@ run_steps() {
   echo "  Building $app..."
   IFS=',' read -ra step_list <<< "$steps"
   for step in "${step_list[@]}"; do
-    step=$(echo "$step" | xargs)
+    step="${step#"${step%%[![:space:]]*}"}"
+    step="${step%"${step##*[![:space:]]}"}"
     echo "  Running: $step"
     eval "$step"
   done