diff --git a/.readthedocs.yml b/.readthedocs.yml
index 3b8f2f40..8ac9431f 100644
--- a/.readthedocs.yml
+++ b/.readthedocs.yml
@@ -11,13 +11,13 @@ build:
   jobs:
     #build an environment
     pre-install:
-      - export CUSTOM_ENV_DIR= /docs/build/
-      - mkdir -p $CUSTOM_ENV_DIR
-      - conda env create -p $CUSTOM_ENV_DIR -f docs/source/environment.yml
-      - export READTHEDOCS_VIRTUALENV_PATH=$CUSTOM_ENV_DIR
+      - "export CUSTOM_ENV_DIR= /docs/build/"
+      - "mkdir -p $CUSTOM_ENV_DIR"
+      - "conda env create -p $CUSTOM_ENV_DIR -f docs/source/environment.yml"
+      - "export READTHEDOCS_VIRTUALENV_PATH=$CUSTOM_ENV_DIR"
     post_install:
       # Run the build commands within the specified environment
-      - conda run -p $READTHEDOCS_VIRTUALENV_PATH sphinx-build -M html docs/source/ docs/build/
+      - "conda run -p $READTHEDOCS_VIRTUALENV_PATH sphinx-build -M html docs/source/ docs/build/"
 
 python:
   install: