diff --git a/export.sh b/export.sh
index 2db9f123e48e..26796369db1a 100644
--- a/export.sh
+++ b/export.sh
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ __realpath() {
 
 
 __verbose() {
-    [ -n "${IDF_EXPORT_QUIET}" ] && return
+    [ -n "${IDF_EXPORT_QUIET-}" ] && return
     echo "$@"
 }