diff --git a/startstop.sh b/startstop.sh
index 1b89f6b..b3ef7e7 100755
--- a/startstop.sh
+++ b/startstop.sh
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ else
 
 	    sleep .7
 
-	    COUNTER=$[$COUNTER +1]
+	    $COUNTER=$[$COUNTER +1]
 
 	    if [ $COUNTER -eq 20 ]; then