diff --git a/jobs/pipelines/deploy-cicd-and-run-tests.groovy b/jobs/pipelines/deploy-cicd-and-run-tests.groovy
index ff8a9f8..3c0b328 100644
--- a/jobs/pipelines/deploy-cicd-and-run-tests.groovy
+++ b/jobs/pipelines/deploy-cicd-and-run-tests.groovy
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 def batch_size = env.BATCH_SIZE ?: ''
 def dist_upgrade_nodes = "${env.DIST_UPGRADE_NODES}" != "false" ? true : false
 def upgrade_saltstack = "${env.UPGRADE_SALTSTACK}" != "false" ? true : false
+def upgrade_version_tag = "${env.UPGRADE_VERSION_TAG}"
 
 if (env_manager == 'devops') {
     jenkins_slave_node_name = "${NODE_NAME}"
@@ -228,7 +229,7 @@
                 upgrade_to_tag = ''
                 contrail_upgrade_line = ''
                 if(env.UPGRADE_TO_TAG == "true") {
-                    upgrade_to_tag = '--update-to-tag ${env.UPGRADE_VERSION_TAG} '
+                    upgrade_to_tag = "--update-to-tag ${upgrade_version_tag} "
                 }
                 if(env.PLATFORM_STACK_INSTALL.contains("contrail")) {
                     contrail_upgrade_line = "tcp_tests/tests/system/test_upgrade_contrail.py::TestUpdateContrail "