diff --git a/.drone.yml b/.drone.yml
index 2e8acd1..d32ed7e 100644
--- a/.drone.yml
+++ b/.drone.yml
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ steps:
       from_secret: ZULIP_TOKEN
   commands:
   - if [ "${DRONE_BUILD_STATUS}" != "success" ]; then export ZULIP_STATUS=":prohibited:"; fi 
-  - export ZULIP_MESSAGE=$(bash echo $${DRONE_COMMIT_MESSAGE:0:-2})
+  - export ZULIP_MESSAGE=$(bash -c "echo $${DRONE_COMMIT_MESSAGE:0:-2}")
   - export SHORT_COMMIT=$${DRONE_COMMIT:0:7}
   - echo $SHORT_COMMIT
   # - echo $${SHORT_COMMIT:0:7}