diff --git a/script/compile b/script/compile
index 79177224..5a019895 100755
--- a/script/compile
+++ b/script/compile
@@ -2,9 +2,7 @@
 
 set -eou pipefail
 
-if [ -z "$BABASHKA_XMX" ]; then
-    export BABASHKA_XMX="-J-Xmx4500m"
-fi
+BABASHKA_XMX=${BABASHKA_XMX:-"-J-Xmx4500m"}
 
 if [ -z "$GRAALVM_HOME" ]; then
     echo "Please set GRAALVM_HOME"