diff --git a/usr.sbin/config/config.y b/usr.sbin/config/config.y
index 2310f0247612..0d431f55beeb 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/config/config.y
+++ b/usr.sbin/config/config.y
@@ -203,6 +203,7 @@ Config_spec:
 			err(EXIT_FAILURE, "calloc");
 		envvar->env_str = $2;
 		STAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&envvars, envvar, envvar_next);
+		envmode = 1;
 	        } |
 	HINTS ID {
 		struct hint *hint;