diff --git a/.github/workflows/scripts/backport-command/create_issue.sh b/.github/workflows/scripts/backport-command/create_issue.sh
index 1984d50b6dac8..50154ef2e6f64 100755
--- a/.github/workflows/scripts/backport-command/create_issue.sh
+++ b/.github/workflows/scripts/backport-command/create_issue.sh
@@ -49,5 +49,6 @@ if [[ -z $backport_issue_url ]]; then
     --body "Backport $ORIG_ISSUE_URL to branch $BACKPORT_BRANCH. $additional_body"
 else
   msg="Backport issue already exists: $backport_issue_url"
+  echo "$msg"
   echo "BACKPORT_ERROR=$msg" >>"$GITHUB_ENV"
 fi
diff --git a/.github/workflows/scripts/backport-command/gh_wrapper.sh b/.github/workflows/scripts/backport-command/gh_wrapper.sh
index 8a9c87d3ef03a..495e0e78c4ae6 100755
--- a/.github/workflows/scripts/backport-command/gh_wrapper.sh
+++ b/.github/workflows/scripts/backport-command/gh_wrapper.sh
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ gh_issue_url() {
   done
   shift $((OPTIND - 1))
 
-  search=${search-"[$BACKPORT_BRANCH] $ORIG_TITLE in:title"}
+  search=${search-"\"[$BACKPORT_BRANCH] $ORIG_TITLE\" in:title"}
   milestone=${milestone-$TARGET_MILESTONE}
   repo=${repo-$TARGET_ORG/$TARGET_REPO}