diff --git a/install/autocaliweb-install.sh b/install/autocaliweb-install.sh
index 49e36772..0686473c 100644
--- a/install/autocaliweb-install.sh
+++ b/install/autocaliweb-install.sh
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ INGEST_DIR="/opt/acw-book-ingest"
 SERVICE_USER="acw"
 SERVICE_GROUP="acw"
 SCRIPTS_DIR="${INSTALL_DIR}/scripts"
-VIRTUAL_ENV="${INSTALL_DIR}/venv"
+export VIRTUAL_ENV="${INSTALL_DIR}/venv"
 
 mkdir -p "$CONFIG_DIR"/{.config/calibre/plugins,log_archive,.acw_conversion_tmp}
 mkdir -p "$CONFIG_DIR"/processed_books/{converted,imported,failed,fixed_originals}