diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index afc8257..bd16b83 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ jobs:
         if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')
         run: |
           version=$(python3 -c 'from atom_tools.__init__ import __version__; print(f"refs/tags/v{__version__}")')
-          if $version != "${{ github.ref }}"; then
+          if "$version" != "${{ github.ref }}"; then
             echo "Version in atom_tools.__init__.py has not been updated. $version != ${{ github.ref }}"
             exit 1
           fi