diff --git a/lib/hoe/racc.rb b/lib/hoe/racc.rb
index 5e6ae32..e416fe4 100644
--- a/lib/hoe/racc.rb
+++ b/lib/hoe/racc.rb
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def initialize_racc
 
     # -v = verbose
     # -l = no-line-convert (they don't ever line up anyhow)
-    self.racc_flags ||= "-v -l"
+    self.racc_flags ||= +"-v -l"
     self.oedipus_options ||= {
                               :do_parse => false,
                              }