diff --git a/.woodpecker.yml b/.woodpecker.yml
index ac44244..4130a94 100644
--- a/.woodpecker.yml
+++ b/.woodpecker.yml
@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@ steps:
       REGISTRY_PASSWORD:
         from_secret: REGISTRY_PASSWORD
     commands:
-      - test -n "${REGISTRY_HOSTPORT}"
-      - test -n "${REGISTRY_USERNAME}"
-      - test -n "${REGISTRY_PASSWORD}"
-      - echo "${REGISTRY_PASSWORD}" | docker login "${REGISTRY_HOSTPORT}" -u "${REGISTRY_USERNAME}" --password-stdin
+      - test -n "${REGISTRY_HOSTPORT:-}" || (echo "missing REGISTRY_HOSTPORT" && exit 1)
+      - test -n "${REGISTRY_USERNAME:-}" || (echo "missing REGISTRY_USERNAME" && exit 1)
+      - test -n "${REGISTRY_PASSWORD:-}" || (echo "missing REGISTRY_PASSWORD" && exit 1)
+      - echo "$REGISTRY_PASSWORD" | docker login "$REGISTRY_HOSTPORT" -u "$REGISTRY_USERNAME" --password-stdin
       - docker build -t "${REGISTRY_HOSTPORT}/nxtgauge-ai-assistant" -f Dockerfile .
       - docker push "${REGISTRY_HOSTPORT}/nxtgauge-ai-assistant"