diff --git a/tools/configure_tempest.sh b/tools/configure_tempest.sh
index dd43313607..bd0db90aa6 100755
--- a/tools/configure_tempest.sh
+++ b/tools/configure_tempest.sh
@@ -119,9 +119,9 @@ ALT_TENANT_NAME=$OS_TENANT_NAME
 FLAVOR_REF=1
 FLAVOR_REF_ALT=2
 
-ADMIN_USERNAME={$ADMIN_USERNAME:-admin}
-ADMIN_PASSWORD={$ADMIN_PASSWORD:-secrete}
-ADMIN_TENANT_NAME={$ADMIN_TENANT:-admin}
+ADMIN_USERNAME=${ADMIN_USERNAME:-admin}
+ADMIN_PASSWORD=${ADMIN_PASSWORD:-secrete}
+ADMIN_TENANT_NAME=${ADMIN_TENANT:-admin}
 
 # Do any of the following need to be configurable?
 COMPUTE_CATALOG_TYPE=compute