diff --git a/core/__cdist_manifest_run_init b/core/__cdist_manifest_run_init
index 2d694900..18507252 100755
--- a/core/__cdist_manifest_run_init
+++ b/core/__cdist_manifest_run_init
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 
 __cdist_manifest_run_init()
 {
-   eval export $__cdist_name_var_manifest=\"\$__cdist_manifest_dir\"
+   export $__cdist_name_var_manifest="$__cdist_manifest_dir"
 
    __cdist_echo info "Running initial manifest for $__cdist_target_host "
    __cdist_manifest_run "$__cdist_manifest_init"