diff --git a/test/scripts/jenkins_build_load_testing.sh b/test/scripts/jenkins_build_load_testing.sh
index 0c00cc5b45605..659321f1d3975 100755
--- a/test/scripts/jenkins_build_load_testing.sh
+++ b/test/scripts/jenkins_build_load_testing.sh
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ echo " -> test setup"
 source test/scripts/jenkins_test_setup_xpack.sh
 
 echo " -> run gatling load testing"
-export GATLING_SIMULATIONS = "$simulations"
+export GATLING_SIMULATIONS="$simulations"
 node scripts/functional_tests \
   --kibana-install-dir "$KIBANA_INSTALL_DIR" \
   --config test/load/config.ts