diff --git a/.github/workflows/daos_tests.yml b/.github/workflows/daos_tests.yml
index 4678d0819b..bd391bfe97 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/daos_tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/daos_tests.yml
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ jobs:
           path: pmdk
 
       - name: Apply DAOS patches
-        if: env.DAOS_BUILD
+        if: ${{ env.DAOS_BUILD }}
         working-directory: daos
         run: git apply ../pmdk/src/test/daos_dtx/*.patch
 
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ jobs:
 
       # https://go.dev/doc/install
       - name: Update the golang package
-        if: env.DAOS_BUILD
+        if: ${{ env.DAOS_BUILD }}
         env:
           GOLANG_VER: go1.23.1 # >= 1.21 because of https://go.dev/doc/toolchain
         run: |
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ jobs:
         run: sudo ./install-valgrind.sh
 
       - name: Generate ${{ env.OPTS_FILE }}
-        if: env.DAOS_BUILD
+        if: ${{ env.DAOS_BUILD }}
         working-directory: daos
         env:
           OPTS_FILE: daos.conf
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ jobs:
           cat ${{ env.OPTS_FILE }}
 
       - name: Build DAOS
-        if: env.DAOS_BUILD
+        if: ${{ env.DAOS_BUILD }}
         working-directory: daos
         run: |
           git submodule init
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ jobs:
       #     tree
 
       - name: Save ${{ env.DAOS_PATH }} as cache
-        if: env.DAOS_BUILD
+        if: ${{ env.DAOS_BUILD }}
         uses: actions/cache/save@0c45773b623bea8c8e75f6c82b208c3cf94ea4f9 # v4.0.2
         with:
           path: ${{ env.DAOS_PATH }}