set(windows_cmd "a \"b c\" 'd e' \";\" \\ \"c:\\windows\\path\\\\\" \\\"") set(windows_exp "a;b c;'d;e';\;;\\;c:\\windows\\path\\;\"") separate_arguments(windows_out WINDOWS_COMMAND "${windows_cmd}") if(NOT "${windows_out}" STREQUAL "${windows_exp}") message(FATAL_ERROR "separate_arguments windows-style failed. " "Expected\n [${windows_exp}]\nbut got\n [${windows_out}]\n") endif()