diff --git a/lib/debug/thread_client.rb b/lib/debug/thread_client.rb
index 5f2d1001a..79d53e474 100644
--- a/lib/debug/thread_client.rb
+++ b/lib/debug/thread_client.rb
@@ -643,7 +643,8 @@ def show_by_editor path = nil
         if editor = (ENV['RUBY_DEBUG_EDITOR'] || ENV['EDITOR'])
           puts "command: #{editor}"
           puts "   path: #{path}"
-          system(editor, path)
+          require 'shellwords'
+          system(*Shellwords.split(editor), path)
         else
           puts "can not find editor setting: ENV['RUBY_DEBUG_EDITOR'] or ENV['EDITOR']"
         end