diff --git a/crates/collab/k8s/collab.template.yml b/crates/collab/k8s/collab.template.yml
index c5285ba15f..cf736f5fd1 100644
--- a/crates/collab/k8s/collab.template.yml
+++ b/crates/collab/k8s/collab.template.yml
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ spec:
             - name: ZED_ENVIRONMENT
               value: ${ZED_ENVIRONMENT}
             - name: AUTO_JOIN_CHANNEL_ID
-              value: ${AUTO_JOIN_CHANNEL_ID}
+              value: "${AUTO_JOIN_CHANNEL_ID}"
           securityContext:
             capabilities:
               # FIXME - Switch to the more restrictive `PERFMON` capability.