diff --git a/ci_scripts/remote_python_packaging.sh b/ci_scripts/remote_python_packaging.sh
index 0ce17350f..ba3d6e355 100755
--- a/ci_scripts/remote_python_packaging.sh
+++ b/ci_scripts/remote_python_packaging.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash 
 
-export BRANCH=${CIRCLE_BRANCH:master}
-export REPONAME=${CIRCLE_PROJECT_REPONAME:deltachat-core-rust}
+export BRANCH=${CIRCLE_BRANCH:-master}
+export REPONAME=${CIRCLE_PROJECT_REPONAME:-deltachat-core-rust}
 export SSHTARGET=${SSHTARGET-ci@b1.delta.chat}
 
 export BUILDDIR=ci_builds/$REPONAME/$BRANCH/${CIRCLE_JOB:?jobname}/${CIRCLE_BUILD_NUM:?circle-build-number}
diff --git a/ci_scripts/remote_tests_python.sh b/ci_scripts/remote_tests_python.sh
index 0062dfe85..f4e2b56e8 100755
--- a/ci_scripts/remote_tests_python.sh
+++ b/ci_scripts/remote_tests_python.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash 
 
-export BRANCH=${CIRCLE_BRANCH:master}
-export REPONAME=${CIRCLE_PROJECT_REPONAME:deltachat-core-rust}
+export BRANCH=${CIRCLE_BRANCH:-master}
+export REPONAME=${CIRCLE_PROJECT_REPONAME:-deltachat-core-rust}
 export SSHTARGET=${SSHTARGET-ci@b1.delta.chat}
 
 export BUILDDIR=ci_builds/$REPONAME/$BRANCH/${CIRCLE_JOB:?jobname}/${CIRCLE_BUILD_NUM:?circle-build-number}
diff --git a/ci_scripts/remote_tests_rust.sh b/ci_scripts/remote_tests_rust.sh
index bf222e41b..5f08f1c08 100755
--- a/ci_scripts/remote_tests_rust.sh
+++ b/ci_scripts/remote_tests_rust.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash 
 
-export BRANCH=${CIRCLE_BRANCH:master}
-export REPONAME=${CIRCLE_PROJECT_REPONAME:deltachat-core-rust}
+export BRANCH=${CIRCLE_BRANCH:-master}
+export REPONAME=${CIRCLE_PROJECT_REPONAME:-deltachat-core-rust}
 export SSHTARGET=${SSHTARGET-ci@b1.delta.chat}
 
 export BUILDDIR=ci_builds/$REPONAME/$BRANCH/${CIRCLE_JOB:?jobname}/${CIRCLE_BUILD_NUM:?circle-build-number}