diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-docs.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-docs.yml
index be5f96b..2a85f15 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-docs.yml
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: MkDocs build (strict default)
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
+          export MKDOCS_STRICT = ${{ vars.MKDOCS_STRICT:-true}}
           # Default strict on if unset
-          echo "Strict is set to ${MKDOCS_STRICT:-true}"
+          echo "Strict is set to ${MKDOCS_STRICT}"
           tools/build.sh
\ No newline at end of file