diff --git a/setup/so-setup b/setup/so-setup
index fbae5b15d..ea9084831 100755
--- a/setup/so-setup
+++ b/setup/so-setup
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ fi
 
 		if [[ $is_fleet_standalone && $FLEETCUSTOMHOSTNAME != '' ]]; then
 			set_progress_str 73 "$(print_salt_state_apply 'fleet.event_update-custom-hostname')"
-			pillar_override=='"{"static":{"fleet_custom_hostname":"'$FLEETCUSTOMHOSTNAME'"}}"'
+			pillar_override='"{"static":{"fleet_custom_hostname":"'$FLEETCUSTOMHOSTNAME'"}}"'
 			salt-call state.apply -l info fleet.event_update-custom-hostname pillar=$pillar_override >> $setup_log 2>&1
 		fi