diff --git a/client/llb/exec.go b/client/llb/exec.go
index d619c9d22e795..37a1a3b6df41d 100644
--- a/client/llb/exec.go
+++ b/client/llb/exec.go
@@ -725,8 +725,7 @@ func SecretAsEnv(v bool) SecretOption {
 			si.Env = nil
 			return
 		}
-		envDefault := ""
-		si.Env = &envDefault
+		si.Env = &si.Target
 	})
 }