diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yaml b/.github/workflows/build.yaml
index 662144ac7..daede784a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yaml
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ jobs:
           cd $SCRATCH
           # if no fails and no passes in expected fails then cleanup and exit 0 otherwise exit 1
           ./cs.status.${GITHUB_RUN_ID}${{ inputs.compiler }} --expected-fails-file $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/cime_config/testfiles/ExpectedTestFails.xml | grep FAIL | grep -v FAILURE
-          retcode = $?
+          retcode=$?
           if [ $retcode -eq 0 ]; then
             exit 1
           fi