diff --git a/src/write_empty_ruby_project_to_disk.rb b/src/write_empty_ruby_project_to_disk.rb
index 80118c8..4054a8c 100644
--- a/src/write_empty_ruby_project_to_disk.rb
+++ b/src/write_empty_ruby_project_to_disk.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 require "fileutils"
 require "extract_repo"
+require "shellwords"
 require_relative "generate_empty_ruby_project"
 
 module Foobara
@@ -197,7 +198,8 @@ def github_create_repo
 
           puts "pushing to github..."
 
-          cmd = "gh repo create --private #{project_config.org_slash_project_kebab}"
+          description = Shellwords.escape(project_config.description)
+          cmd = "gh repo create --private #{project_config.org_slash_project_kebab} --description #{description}"
           exit_status = run_cmd_and_write_output(cmd, raise_if_fails: false)
 
           unless exit_status&.success?