diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/varnish-exporter.yml b/.gitea/workflows/varnish-exporter.yml
index da11937..f6df773 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/varnish-exporter.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/varnish-exporter.yml
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ jobs:
           commit_user_name: gitea-actions[bot]
           commit_user_email: no-reply@brainsys.io
           commit_message: gitea-actions auto commit - update version
-          tagging_message: "$VERSION"
+          tagging_message: '${{ env.VERSION }}'
           push_options: '--force'
 
       - name: debug output value