diff --git a/lib/common-functions b/lib/common-functions
index f3f73c74f..6bbceab6b 100644
--- a/lib/common-functions
+++ b/lib/common-functions
@@ -241,7 +241,8 @@ function arg_to_elements() {
   fi
   echo "Building elements: $IMAGE_ELEMENT"
 
-  export IMAGE_ELEMENT=$($SCRIPT_HOME/element-info --expand-dependencies $IMAGE_ELEMENT)
+  IMAGE_ELEMENT=$($SCRIPT_HOME/element-info --expand-dependencies $IMAGE_ELEMENT)
+  export IMAGE_ELEMENT
 
   echo "Expanded element dependencies to: $IMAGE_ELEMENT"
 }