diff --git a/.github/workflows/check-license.yml b/.github/workflows/check-license.yml
index 6356b4fd..167a6973 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/check-license.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/check-license.yml
@@ -52,14 +52,14 @@ jobs:
 
           DETECTED_LICENSE_FILE="$(echo "$LICENSEE_OUTPUT" | jq .matched_files[0].filename | tr --delete '\r')"
           echo "Detected license file: $DETECTED_LICENSE_FILE"
-          if [ "$DETECTED_LICENSE_FILE" != "\"$EXPECTED_LICENSE_FILENAME\"" ]; then
+          if [ "$DETECTED_LICENSE_FILE" != "\"${EXPECTED_LICENSE_FILENAME}\"" ]; then
             echo "ERROR: detected license file doesn't match expected: $EXPECTED_LICENSE_FILENAME"
             EXIT_STATUS=1
           fi
 
           DETECTED_LICENSE_TYPE="$(echo "$LICENSEE_OUTPUT" | jq .matched_files[0].matched_license | tr --delete '\r')"
           echo "Detected license type: $DETECTED_LICENSE_TYPE"
-          if [ "$DETECTED_LICENSE_TYPE" != "\"$EXPECTED_LICENSE_TYPE\"" ]; then
+          if [ "$DETECTED_LICENSE_TYPE" != "\"${EXPECTED_LICENSE_TYPE}\"" ]; then
             echo "ERROR: detected license type doesn't match expected $EXPECTED_LICENSE_TYPE"
             EXIT_STATUS=1
           fi