diff --git a/Modules/WriteCompilerDetectionHeader.cmake b/Modules/WriteCompilerDetectionHeader.cmake
index f4dcb2157..a3b73bb89 100644
--- a/Modules/WriteCompilerDetectionHeader.cmake
+++ b/Modules/WriteCompilerDetectionHeader.cmake
@@ -246,10 +246,10 @@ function(write_compiler_detection_header
     file_keyword file_arg
     prefix_keyword prefix_arg
     )
-  if (NOT file_keyword STREQUAL FILE)
+  if (NOT "x${file_keyword}" STREQUAL "xFILE")
     message(FATAL_ERROR "write_compiler_detection_header: FILE parameter missing.")
   endif()
-  if (NOT prefix_keyword STREQUAL PREFIX)
+  if (NOT "x${prefix_keyword}" STREQUAL "xPREFIX")
     message(FATAL_ERROR "write_compiler_detection_header: PREFIX parameter missing.")
   endif()
   set(options)