diff --git a/tests/apps/lammps/ethanol.py b/tests/apps/lammps/ethanol.py
index 9f8f413..60a9a15 100644
--- a/tests/apps/lammps/ethanol.py
+++ b/tests/apps/lammps/ethanol.py
@@ -99,9 +99,7 @@ def setup_nnodes(self):
     @run_after("setup")
     def setup_gpu_options(self):
         """sets up different resources for gpu systems"""
-        self.env_vars["PARAMS"] = (
-            f'"--exclusive --ntasks=40 --tasks-per-node=40"'
-        )
+        self.env_vars["PARAMS"] = "--exclusive --ntasks=40 --tasks-per-node=40"
         # Cirru slurm demands it be done this way.
         # Trying to add $PARAMS directly to job.launcher.options fails.
         if self.current_system.name in ["cirrus"]: