diff --git a/libguile/readline.c b/libguile/readline.c
index 7861e0de9..ea8c2295e 100644
--- a/libguile/readline.c
+++ b/libguile/readline.c
@@ -370,6 +370,7 @@ scm_init_readline ()
   rl_getc_function = current_input_getc;
   rl_redisplay_function = redisplay;
   rl_completion_entry_function = (Function*) completion_function;
+  rl_basic_word_break_characters = "\t\n\"'`;()";
 #ifdef USE_THREADS
   scm_mutex_init (&reentry_barrier_mutex);
 #endif