diff --git a/Lib/test/test_cmd_line.py b/Lib/test/test_cmd_line.py
index 5e898634d96..cacae7a697a 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_cmd_line.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_cmd_line.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import subprocess
 
 class CmdLineTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def start_python(self, cmd_line):
-        outfp, infp = popen2.popen4('%s %s' % (sys.executable, cmd_line))
+        outfp, infp = popen2.popen4('"%s" %s' % (sys.executable, cmd_line))
         infp.close()
         data = outfp.read()
         outfp.close()
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 56b9007c8ef..5486e3ecaae 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -624,6 +624,8 @@ Extension Modules
 Tests
 -----
 
+- Patch #1559413: Fix test_cmd_line if sys.executable contains a space.
+
 - Added test.test_support.TransientResource which is a context manager to
   surround calls to resources that are not guaranteed to work even if
   test.test_support.requires says that the resource should exist.