diff --git a/.github/workflows/backport.yml b/.github/workflows/backport.yml
index d803ddb5a3..d48714eb89 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/backport.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/backport.yml
@@ -100,11 +100,11 @@ jobs:
           done
 
           pr_head=$(gh pr view ${{ steps.commit.outputs.pr_number }} --json headRepositoryOwner,headRefName --jq '.headRepositoryOwner.login + ":" + .headRefName')
-          response=$(curl -s -o response.json -w "%{http_code}" -X GET "${{ secrets.KVSTORE_URL }}/?key=head_$pr_head" \
+          STATUS_CODE=$(curl -s -o response.json -w "%{http_code}" -X GET "${{ secrets.KVSTORE_URL }}/?key=head_$pr_head" \
             -H "Authorization: Bearer ${{ secrets.KVSTORE_TOKEN }}")
-          if [ "$(cat response.json)" == "404" ]; then
+          if [ $STATUS_CODE == "404" ]; then
             target_branches=($target_milestones)
-          elif [ "$(cat response.json)" == "200" ]; then
+          elif [ $STATUS_CODE == "200" ]; then
             pr_base=$(jq -r '.value' response.json)
             target_branches=("backport/${pr_base}-to-${target_milestones[@]}")
           else