diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 2d93fab..7e5d273 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ before_install:
   # osx: Update Homebrew, remove conflicting cask, brew bundle, symlink elm-format,
   #      upgrade pip, and install python packages
   - echo $TRAVIS_COMMIT_MESSAGE
-  - export "TRAVIS_COMMIT_MESSAGE" = ""
+  - export TRAVIS_COMMIT_MESSAGE=""
   - echo $TRAVIS_COMMIT_MESSAGE
   - if [[ "$TRAVIS_OS_NAME" == "linux" ]]; then
       curl https://nixos.org/nix/install | sh &&