diff --git a/recipes/openssl/3.x.x/conanfile.py b/recipes/openssl/3.x.x/conanfile.py
index f1a5c603e6eeb..c858b3551b71d 100644
--- a/recipes/openssl/3.x.x/conanfile.py
+++ b/recipes/openssl/3.x.x/conanfile.py
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ def _create_targets(self, cflags, cxxflags, defines, ldflags):
         if self._perlasm_scheme:
             perlasm_scheme = 'perlasm_scheme => "%s",' % self._perlasm_scheme
 
-        defines = " ".join(defines)
+        defines = '", "'.join(defines)
         defines = 'defines => add("%s"),' % defines if defines else ""
         targets = "my %targets"