diff --git a/.github/workflows/vm-release.yml b/.github/workflows/vm-release.yml
index 02b88e5..0db383d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/vm-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/vm-release.yml
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Build tar ball
         run: |
-          TARBALL= nuklaivm-${{ github.sha }}.tar.gz
+          TARBALL=nuklaivm-${{ github.sha }}.tar.gz
           EXCLUDES=$(cat .gitignore .dockerignore 2>/dev/null | grep -v '^#' | sed '/^$/d' | sed 's/^/--exclude=/' | tr '\n' ' ')
           EXCLUDES+=" --exclude='./web_wallet' --exclude=$TARBALL"
           eval "tar -czf $TARBALL $EXCLUDES -C . ."