diff --git a/awx/main/tasks/receptor.py b/awx/main/tasks/receptor.py
index 576ad661d5..58c2e895cc 100644
--- a/awx/main/tasks/receptor.py
+++ b/awx/main/tasks/receptor.py
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ def _convert_args_to_cli(vargs):
     args = ['cleanup']
     for option in ('exclude_strings', 'remove_images'):
         if vargs.get(option):
-            args.append('--{}="{}"'.format(option.replace('_', '-'), ' '.join(vargs.get(option))))
+            args.append('--{} {}'.format(option.replace('_', '-'), ' '.join(f'"{item}"' for item in vargs.get(option))))
     for option in ('file_pattern', 'image_prune', 'process_isolation_executable', 'grace_period'):
         if vargs.get(option) is True:
             args.append('--{}'.format(option.replace('_', '-')))
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/unit/utils/test_receptor.py b/awx/main/tests/unit/utils/test_receptor.py
index b077e8a5db..123044fcad 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/unit/utils/test_receptor.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/unit/utils/test_receptor.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from awx.main.tasks.receptor import _convert_args_to_cli
 
 def test_file_cleanup_scenario():
     args = _convert_args_to_cli({'exclude_strings': ['awx_423_', 'awx_582_'], 'file_pattern': '/tmp/awx_*_*'})
-    assert ' '.join(args) == 'cleanup --exclude-strings="awx_423_ awx_582_" --file-pattern=/tmp/awx_*_*'
+    assert ' '.join(args) == 'cleanup --exclude-strings "awx_423_" "awx_582_" --file-pattern=/tmp/awx_*_*'
 
 
 def test_image_cleanup_scenario():
@@ -17,5 +17,6 @@ def test_image_cleanup_scenario():
         }
     )
     assert (
-        ' '.join(args) == 'cleanup --remove-images="quay.invalid/foo/bar:latest quay.invalid/foo/bar:devel" --image-prune --process-isolation-executable=podman'
+        ' '.join(args)
+        == 'cleanup --remove-images "quay.invalid/foo/bar:latest" "quay.invalid/foo/bar:devel" --image-prune --process-isolation-executable=podman'
     )