diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a8653bd..fc68bd3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,8 +10,9 @@ Typically you will be notified via [release-monitoring](https://release-monitori
 Start with bumping the spec and reference the Bugzilla number.
 
 ```
-export commit_message="Update to $VERSION (fixes rhbz#$BZ)"
-BZ=2151953 VERSION=7.21.0 ; rpmdev-bumpspec --new="$VERSION" --comment="$commit_message" puppet.spec
+BZ=2151953 VERSION=7.21.0
+commit_message="Update to $VERSION (fixes rhbz#$BZ)"
+rpmdev-bumpspec --new="$VERSION" --comment="$commit_message" puppet.spec
 ```
 
 Then verify whether any vendored modules need to be updated.