diff --git a/ceph-remove-node.groovy b/ceph-remove-node.groovy
index 4124ce4..9fd38b6 100644
--- a/ceph-remove-node.groovy
+++ b/ceph-remove-node.groovy
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@
                 }
 
                 if(!osdOnly) {
-                    salt.runSaltProcessStep(pepperEnv, HOST, 'pkg.purge', pkgs)
+                    salt.runSaltProcessStep(pepperEnv, HOST, 'pkg.purge', "pkgs='$pkgs'")
                 }
                 else {
                     common.infoMsg('Stage skipped.')