diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 8c994c7..6353261 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -160,6 +160,6 @@ jobs:
             # https://github.com/status-im/nimbus-eth2/issues/3121
             export NIMFLAGS="-d:nimRawSetjmp"
           fi
-          "NIM_COMMIT=${{ matrix.branch }}"
+          export NIM_COMMIT=${{ matrix.branch }}
           make -j${ncpu} CI_CACHE=NimBinaries ARCH_OVERRIDE=${PLATFORM} QUICK_AND_DIRTY_COMPILER=1 update
           make test -j${ncpu}