diff --git a/web3.js/bin/localnet.sh b/web3.js/bin/localnet.sh
index 8e4989a516..98f637587f 100755
--- a/web3.js/bin/localnet.sh
+++ b/web3.js/bin/localnet.sh
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ up)
       --publish 8900:8900
       --publish 9900:9900
       --tty
-      --ulimit nofile=500000
+      --ulimit "nofile=500000"
       --env "RUST_LOG=$RUST_LOG"
     )
     if [[ -n $network ]]; then