diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index def3c2b..ce6a484 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -73,17 +73,17 @@ jobs:
       testContainerName: tests-aimingmedai
       # Pass test environment variables as JSON string
       testEnvs: >
-        [
+        '[
           "FRONTEND_URL=http://frontend:80",
           "BACKEND_URL=http://backend:80",
           "ENVIRONMENT=dev",
           "TESTING=1",
-        ]
+        ]'
       # Pass test directories as JSON string
       tests: >
-        [
+        '[
           "tests/integration/backend",
-        ]
+        ]'
       # Pass image definitions for compose setup as JSON string
       # Sensitive values should be passed via secrets and referenced within the template
       images: >
diff --git a/.github/workflows/template_test.yml b/.github/workflows/template_test.yml
index bf9eb4a..f7c1fba 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/template_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/template_test.yml
@@ -147,8 +147,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run Tests
         shell: bash
         run: |
-          TEST_DIRS='${ inputs.tests }' # JSON string of test directories/commands
-          TEST_ENVS_JSON='${ inputs.testEnvs }' # JSON string of environment variables
+          TEST_DIRS=${ inputs.tests } # JSON string of test directories/commands
+          TEST_ENVS_JSON=${ inputs.testEnvs } # JSON string of environment variables
           RESULTS_PATH="${{ inputs.testResultsPath }}"
           STAGING_DIR="${{ runner.temp }}/test-results" # Use runner temp dir for results
           mkdir -p "$STAGING_DIR"