diff --git a/.github/workflows/nightly-trigger.yml b/.github/workflows/nightly-trigger.yml
index 90ae15fdcda919..7e9f89015a25ab 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/nightly-trigger.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/nightly-trigger.yml
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ jobs:
           echo "Day of year: $day_of_year"
           
           # each release branch should run every 3rd day to reduce load on the Apache Infra runners
-          release_branch = "no branch"
+          release_branch="no branch"
           if [[ "$(( $day_of_year % 3))" -eq 1 ]]; then
             release_branch="${{ steps.release_branch_extraction_step.outputs.newest_release }}"
           else if [[ "$(( $day_of_year % 3))" -eq 2 ]]; then