diff --git a/net/net.sh b/net/net.sh
index b1c99b01f0..d0e383db13 100755
--- a/net/net.sh
+++ b/net/net.sh
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ else
 fi
 
 annotate() {
-  ${BUILDKITE:-false} && {
+  [[ -z $BUILDKITE ]] || {
     buildkite-agent annotate "$@"
   }
 }