diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci-docs.yml b/.github/workflows/ci-docs.yml
index 2a85f15..816a54c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci-docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci-docs.yml
@@ -37,9 +37,10 @@ jobs:
           pip install -r mkdocs/requirements.txt
 
       - name: MkDocs build (strict default)
+        env:
+          MKDOCS_STRICT: ${{ vars.MKDOCS_STRICT }} 
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
-          export MKDOCS_STRICT = ${{ vars.MKDOCS_STRICT:-true}}
           # Default strict on if unset
           echo "Strict is set to ${MKDOCS_STRICT}"
           tools/build.sh
\ No newline at end of file