diff --git a/dist/tools/git/git-cache b/dist/tools/git/git-cache
index 06901afd99..24e4de4ffd 100755
--- a/dist/tools/git/git-cache
+++ b/dist/tools/git/git-cache
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ usage() {
 ACTION=$1
 shift 1
 
-export GIT_CACHE_DIR=${GIT_CACHE_DIR:-${HOME}/.gitcache}
+GIT_CACHE_DIR=${GIT_CACHE_DIR:-${HOME}/.gitcache}
 
 case $ACTION in
     init)