diff --git a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/auto b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/auto
index 7234ad8dd31f..68028aceace0 100755
--- a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/auto
+++ b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/auto
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ EXTRA_DISTS=$(echo $DISTMENU | xargs dialog --backtitle "FreeBSD Installer" \
     --checklist "Choose optional system components to install:" \
     0 0 0 \
 2>&1 1>&3)
-DISTRIBUTIONS="base.txz kernel.txz"
+export DISTRIBUTIONS="base.txz kernel.txz"
 for dist in $EXTRA_DISTS; do
 	export DISTRIBUTIONS="$DISTRIBUTIONS $dist.txz"
 done