diff --git a/hack/populate_secrets.sh b/hack/populate_secrets.sh
index b71425bec4..c398be7266 100755
--- a/hack/populate_secrets.sh
+++ b/hack/populate_secrets.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,6 @@ while read -r manifest_line; do
   manifest_key="$(echo "$manifest_line" | cut -d'=' -f1)"
   manifest_value="$(echo "$manifest_line" | cut -d'=' -f2)"
   printf "\t%s\n" "${manifest_key}"
-  eval "manifest_key_val=\"\${$manifest_key}\""
+  manifest_key_val="${!manifest_key}"
   cp "${manifest_key_val}" "${manifest_value}"
 done < "$SECRETS_MANIFEST"