diff --git a/integration_tests/aspect/common.bats b/integration_tests/aspect/common.bats
index 6439f3701..fe0708692 100644
--- a/integration_tests/aspect/common.bats
+++ b/integration_tests/aspect/common.bats
@@ -6,11 +6,16 @@ aspect() {
     # but the configured path is only writable by specific users which we can't run as within the sandbox. 
     # these system wide flag affect the output path of the bazel-in-bazel that is run inside the tests leading to errors.
     # NOTE: the output files left by bazel-in-bazel should be discarded as they are not part of the action. 
-    "$TEST_SRCDIR/build_aspect_cli/cmd/aspect/aspect_/aspect" --nosystem_rc --nohome_rc $@
+    "$TEST_SRCDIR/build_aspect_cli/cmd/aspect/aspect_/aspect" --nosystem_rc --nohome_rc "$@"
+}
+
+aspect_bare() {
+    "$TEST_SRCDIR/build_aspect_cli/cmd/aspect/aspect_/aspect" "$@"
 }
 
 setup_file() {
-    export USE_BAZEL_VERSION=$(realpath $BAZEL_BINARY)
+    USE_BAZEL_VERSION="$(realpath "$BAZEL_BINARY")"
+    export USE_BAZEL_VERSION
     export HOME="$TEST_TMPDIR"
     mkdir -p "$HOME/.aspect/cli"
     touch "$HOME/.aspect/cli/config.yaml"
@@ -19,4 +24,4 @@ setup_file() {
 teardown_file() {
     aspect shutdown
     rm -f "$HOME/.aspect/cli/config.yaml"
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/integration_tests/aspect/version_test.bats b/integration_tests/aspect/version_test.bats
index 6959bbb58..371ea5851 100644
--- a/integration_tests/aspect/version_test.bats
+++ b/integration_tests/aspect/version_test.bats
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ setup() {
 }
 
 @test '--version flag should work' {
-    run aspect --version
+    # Use aspect_bare so we don't also set additional flags such as --nosystem_rc and --nohome_rc;
+    # --version flag has special handling and should be the only flag passed
+    run aspect_bare --version
     assert_output --partial "aspect unknown [not built with --stamp]"
 }