diff --git a/conan/tools/meson/toolchain.py b/conan/tools/meson/toolchain.py
index 79efbf6bba0..67713d76920 100644
--- a/conan/tools/meson/toolchain.py
+++ b/conan/tools/meson/toolchain.py
@@ -254,15 +254,15 @@ def __init__(self, conanfile, backend=None, native=False):
         #: Sets the Meson ``c`` variable, defaulting to the ``CC`` build environment value.
         #: If provided as a blank-separated string, it will be transformed into a list.
         #: Otherwise, it remains a single string.
-        self.c = compilers_by_conf.get("c") or build_env.get("CC") or default_comp
+        self.c = compilers_by_conf.get("c") or self._sanitize_env_format(build_env.get("CC")) or default_comp
         #: Sets the Meson ``cpp`` variable, defaulting to the ``CXX`` build environment value.
         #: If provided as a blank-separated string, it will be transformed into a list.
         #: Otherwise, it remains a single string.
-        self.cpp = compilers_by_conf.get("cpp") or build_env.get("CXX") or default_comp_cpp
+        self.cpp = compilers_by_conf.get("cpp") or self._sanitize_env_format(build_env.get("CXX")) or default_comp_cpp
         #: Sets the Meson ``ld`` variable, defaulting to the ``LD`` build environment value.
         #: If provided as a blank-separated string, it will be transformed into a list.
         #: Otherwise, it remains a single string.
-        self.ld = build_env.get("LD")
+        self.ld = self._sanitize_env_format(build_env.get("LD"))
         # FIXME: Should we use the new tools.build:compiler_executables and avoid buildenv?
         # Issue related: https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/issues/6442
         # PR related: https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/pull/6457
@@ -420,12 +420,14 @@ def _get_env_list(v):
     def _filter_list_empty_fields(v):
         return list(filter(bool, v))
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _sanitize_env_format(value):
+        if value is None or isinstance(value, list):
+            return value
+        ret = [x.strip() for x in value.split() if x]
+        return ret[0] if len(ret) == 1 else ret
+
     def _context(self):
-        def _sanitize_format(v):
-            if v is None or isinstance(v, list):
-                return v
-            ret = [x.strip() for x in v.split() if x]
-            return f"'{ret[0]}'" if len(ret) == 1 else ret
 
         apple_flags = self.apple_isysroot_flag + self.apple_arch_flag + self.apple_min_version_flag
         extra_flags = self._get_extra_flags()
@@ -464,9 +466,9 @@ def _sanitize_format(v):
             # https://mesonbuild.com/Builtin-options.html#directories
             # https://mesonbuild.com/Machine-files.html#binaries
             # https://mesonbuild.com/Reference-tables.html#compiler-and-linker-selection-variables
-            "c": _sanitize_format(self.c),
-            "cpp": _sanitize_format(self.cpp),
-            "ld": _sanitize_format(self.ld),
+            "c": to_meson_value(self.c),
+            "cpp": to_meson_value(self.cpp),
+            "ld": to_meson_value(self.ld),
             "objc": self.objc,
             "objcpp": self.objcpp,
             "c_ld": self.c_ld,
diff --git a/conans/test/integration/toolchains/meson/test_mesontoolchain.py b/conans/test/integration/toolchains/meson/test_mesontoolchain.py
index 21bd02c59de..3f4f01643b8 100644
--- a/conans/test/integration/toolchains/meson/test_mesontoolchain.py
+++ b/conans/test/integration/toolchains/meson/test_mesontoolchain.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+from conans.test.assets.genconanfile import GenConanfile
 from conan.tools.files import load
 from conan.tools.meson import MesonToolchain
 from conans.test.utils.tools import TestClient
@@ -517,3 +518,19 @@ def generate(self):
     client.save({"conanfile.py": conanfile})
     client.run("install .", assert_error=True)
     assert "You can only pass native=True if you're cross-building" in client.out
+
+
+def test_compiler_path_with_spaces():
+    profile = textwrap.dedent("""
+        include(default)
+        [conf]
+        tools.build:compiler_executables={"c":"c compiler path with spaces", "cpp":"cpp compiler path with spaces"}
+    """)
+    client = TestClient()
+    client.save(
+        {"conanfile.py": GenConanfile().with_generator("MesonToolchain").with_settings("compiler"),
+         "meson-profile": profile})
+    client.run("install . -pr:h=meson-profile")
+    conan_meson_native = client.load("conan_meson_native.ini")
+    assert "c = 'c compiler path with spaces'" in conan_meson_native
+    assert "cpp = 'cpp compiler path with spaces'" in conan_meson_native