diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
index 46e4931..0ff93e5 100644
--- a/start.sh
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #! /usr/bin/env bash
 set -eu
-if [ ${MODE:-""} == "development" ]; then 
+if [ "${MODE}" == "development" ]; then 
     if [ -f /app/requirements.txt ]; then pip install -r /app/requirements.txt; fi
     exec python web.py
 else