diff --git a/ops/staging-deploy.tmpl.yaml b/ops/staging-deploy.tmpl.yaml
index 89c90dfb..d709d029 100644
--- a/ops/staging-deploy.tmpl.yaml
+++ b/ops/staging-deploy.tmpl.yaml
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ externalFcrepoHost: fcrepo.fcrepo.svc.cluster.local
 externalPostgresql:
   host: hyrax20181216.cn4nhxyoxlnu.us-west-2.rds.amazonaws.com
   username: hydra_user
-  password: '"$POSTGRES_PASSWORD"'
+  password: $POSTGRES_PASSWORD
   database: atla-hyku-staging
 
 externalSolrHost: solr.solr.svc.cluster.local