diff --git a/packages/workspace/src/command-line/format.ts b/packages/workspace/src/command-line/format.ts
index 720ac64083e530..b031e924355169 100644
--- a/packages/workspace/src/command-line/format.ts
+++ b/packages/workspace/src/command-line/format.ts
@@ -96,9 +96,14 @@ function printError(command: string, e: any) {
 
 function write(patterns: string[]) {
   if (patterns.length > 0) {
-    execSync(`node "${prettierPath()}" --write ${patterns.join(' ')}`, {
-      stdio: [0, 1, 2]
-    });
+    execSync(
+      `node "${prettierPath()}" --write ${patterns
+        .map(pattern => fileExists(pattern) ? `'${pattern}'` : pattern)
+        .join(' ')}`,
+      {
+        stdio: [0, 1, 2]
+      }
+    );
   }
 }
 
@@ -106,7 +111,9 @@ function check(patterns: string[]) {
   if (patterns.length > 0) {
     try {
       execSync(
-        `node "${prettierPath()}" --list-different ${patterns.join(' ')}`,
+        `node "${prettierPath()}" --list-different ${patterns
+          .map(pattern => fileExists(pattern) ? `'${pattern}'` : pattern)
+          .join(' ')}`,
         {
           stdio: [0, 1, 2]
         }