# Issue with environment variables?

**URL:** <https://discuss.circleci.com/t/issue-with-environment-variables/8277>\
**Category:** Build Environment\
**Tags:** circle-yml\
**Created:** [November 24, 2016, 3:01pm UTC](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/issue-with-environment-variables/8277 "2016-11-24T15:01:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![stefan-chiforiuc](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/circleci/user_avatar/discuss.circleci.com/stefan-chiforiuc/32/14370_2.png) [@stefan-chiforiuc](https://discuss.circleci.com/u/stefan-chiforiuc)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 3:01pm UTC](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/issue-with-environment-variables/8277/1 "2016-11-24T15:01:19Z")

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Hi there,

I have this environment variable created from the web interface: foo=’\* 23 \* \* \* \*’

When I log the variable in a console I get a strange output:  
’\* _/6 gulpfile.js node\_modules [npm-install.sh](http://npm-install.sh) package.json [README.md](http://README.md) circle.yml gulpfile.js node\_modules [npm-install.sh](http://npm-install.sh) package.json [README.md](http://README.md) circle.yml gulpfile.js node\_modules [npm-install.sh](http://npm-install.sh) package.json [README.md](http://README.md) circle.yml_’

Somehow the variable get merged with the names of the files from the repository.

Why this is happening? And what can I do to have the variable unmodified?

Thanks

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/circleci/original/3X/5/1/511608acda8e85906e15909b57bd0a46c1dbe291.png) [@system](https://discuss.circleci.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 11:38am UTC](https://discuss.circleci.com/t/issue-with-environment-variables/8277/2 "2018-06-18T11:38:55Z")

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