diff --git a/helpers/lh_bootstrap_cdebootstrap b/helpers/lh_bootstrap_cdebootstrap
index df006e3ce..61683dde0 100755
--- a/helpers/lh_bootstrap_cdebootstrap
+++ b/helpers/lh_bootstrap_cdebootstrap
@@ -69,12 +69,12 @@ fi
 
 if [ -n "${LH_BOOTSTRAP_INCLUDE}" ]
 then
-	CDEBOOTSTRAP_OPTIONS="${CDEBOOTSTRAP_OPTIONS} --include=${LH_BOOTSTRAP_INCLUDE}"
+	CDEBOOTSTRAP_OPTIONS="${CDEBOOTSTRAP_OPTIONS} --include=$(echo ${LH_BOOTSTRAP_INCLUDE} | sed 's|  *|,|g')"
 fi
 
 if [ -n "${LH_BOOTSTRAP_EXCLUDE}" ]
 then
-	CDEBOOTSTRAP_OPTIONS="${CDEBOOTSTRAP_OPTIONS} --exclude=${LH_BOOTSTRAP_EXCLUDE}"
+	CDEBOOTSTRAP_OPTIONS="${CDEBOOTSTRAP_OPTIONS} --exclude=$(echo ${LH_BOOTSTRAP_EXCLUDE} | sed 's|  *|,|g')"
 fi
 
 if [ -n "${LH_BOOTSTRAP_KEYRING}" ]
diff --git a/helpers/lh_bootstrap_debootstrap b/helpers/lh_bootstrap_debootstrap
index 12b974326..194a545d4 100755
--- a/helpers/lh_bootstrap_debootstrap
+++ b/helpers/lh_bootstrap_debootstrap
@@ -74,12 +74,12 @@ fi
 
 if [ -n "${LH_BOOTSTRAP_INCLUDE}" ]
 then
-	DEBOOTSTRAP_OPTIONS="${DEBOOTSTRAP_OPTIONS} --include=${LH_BOOTSTRAP_INCLUDE}"
+	DEBOOTSTRAP_OPTIONS="${DEBOOTSTRAP_OPTIONS} --include=$(echo ${LH_BOOTSTRAP_INCLUDE} | sed 's|  *|,|g')"
 fi
 
 if [ -n "${LH_BOOTSTRAP_EXCLUDE}" ]
 then
-	DEBOOTSTRAP_OPTIONS="${DEBOOTSTRAP_OPTIONS} --exclude=${LH_BOOTSTRAP_EXCLUDE}"
+	DEBOOTSTRAP_OPTIONS="${DEBOOTSTRAP_OPTIONS} --exclude=$(echo ${LH_BOOTSTRAP_EXCLUDE} | sed 's|  *|,|g')"
 fi
 
 if [ "${LH_USE_FAKEROOT}" != "enabled" ]