diff --git a/multi-channel-bash-scripts/channeldown.sh b/multi-channel-bash-scripts/channeldown.sh
index 0109149..b9c3e15 100755
--- a/multi-channel-bash-scripts/channeldown.sh
+++ b/multi-channel-bash-scripts/channeldown.sh
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ if [ "${#CHANNEL_DIR_ARR[@]}" -gt 1 ]; then
 	done
 
 	if [ -z $NEXT_CHANNEL ]; then
-		$NEXT_CHANNEL=${CHANNEL_DIR_SORTED[0]}
+		NEXT_CHANNEL=${CHANNEL_DIR_SORTED[0]}
 	fi
 
 	echo "+++++ The next channel is: $NEXT_CHANNEL"
diff --git a/multi-channel-bash-scripts/channelup.sh b/multi-channel-bash-scripts/channelup.sh
index 2a4bf45..3aa60a9 100755
--- a/multi-channel-bash-scripts/channelup.sh
+++ b/multi-channel-bash-scripts/channelup.sh
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ if [ "${#CHANNEL_DIR_ARR[@]}" -gt 1 ]; then
 	done
 
 	if [ -z $NEXT_CHANNEL ]; then
-		$NEXT_CHANNEL=${CHANNEL_DIR_SORTED[0]}
+		NEXT_CHANNEL=${CHANNEL_DIR_SORTED[0]}
 	fi
 
 	echo "+++++ The next channel is: $NEXT_CHANNEL"