diff --git a/charts/ejabberd/templates/scripts/startup.yaml b/charts/ejabberd/templates/scripts/startup.yaml
index abd42a8..c6ffcbb 100644
--- a/charts/ejabberd/templates/scripts/startup.yaml
+++ b/charts/ejabberd/templates/scripts/startup.yaml
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ data:
         else
             info "==> Leaving former cluster ..."
             NO_WARNINGS=true ejabberdctl leave_cluster "$sts_name@$pod_name.${headless_svc}"
-            while ! nc -z "$join_pod_name ${ERL_DIST_PORT:-5210}"; do sleep 1; done
+            while ! nc -z $join_pod_name ${ERL_DIST_PORT:-5210}; do sleep 1; done
             info "==> Will (re-)join ejabberd pod $sts_name@$join_pod_name ..."
             ejabberdctl join_cluster "$sts_name@$join_pod_name" && sleep 5s
             if echo "$(_cluster_member)" | grep -q "$join_pod_name"
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ data:
             info "==> Leaving non-leader cluster ..."
             NO_WARNINGS=true ejabberdctl leave_cluster "$sts_name@$pod_name.${headless_svc}"
         fi
-        while ! nc -z "$leader.${headless_svc} ${ERL_DIST_PORT:-5210}"; do sleep 1; done
+        while ! nc -z $leader.${headless_svc} ${ERL_DIST_PORT:-5210}; do sleep 1; done
         info "==> Will (re-)join leader "$sts_name@$leader.${headless_svc}" ..."
         ejabberdctl join_cluster "$sts_name@$leader.${headless_svc}" && sleep 5s
         if echo "$(_cluster_member)" | grep -q "$leader"
diff --git a/image/24.02/scripts/run.sh b/image/24.02/scripts/run.sh
index 175d3fd..0165344 100644
--- a/image/24.02/scripts/run.sh
+++ b/image/24.02/scripts/run.sh
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ _join_cluster_dns() {
     else
         info "==> Leaving former cluster ..."
         NO_WARNINGS=true ejabberdctl leave_cluster "$sts_name@$pod_name.${headless_svc}"
-        while ! nc -z "$join_pod_name ${ERL_DIST_PORT:-5210}"; do sleep 1; done
+        while ! nc -z $join_pod_name ${ERL_DIST_PORT:-5210}; do sleep 1; done
         info "==> Will (re-)join ejabberd pod $sts_name@$join_pod_name ..."
         ejabberdctl join_cluster "$sts_name@$join_pod_name" && sleep 5s
         if echo "$(_cluster_member)" | grep -q "$join_pod_name"
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ _join_cluster_elector() {
         info "==> Leaving non-leader cluster ..."
         NO_WARNINGS=true ejabberdctl leave_cluster "$sts_name@$pod_name.${headless_svc}"
     fi
-    while ! nc -z "$leader.${headless_svc} ${ERL_DIST_PORT:-5210}"; do sleep 1; done
+    while ! nc -z $leader.${headless_svc} ${ERL_DIST_PORT:-5210}; do sleep 1; done
     info "==> Will (re-)join leader "$sts_name@$leader.${headless_svc}" ..."
     ejabberdctl join_cluster "$sts_name@$leader.${headless_svc}" && sleep 5s
     if echo "$(_cluster_member)" | grep -q "$leader"