diff --git a/backend/Makefile b/backend/Makefile
index 6486f364a..cdac74142 100644
--- a/backend/Makefile
+++ b/backend/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-distro ?= "foss" # ee to build ee
+distro ?= foss # ee to build ee
 app ?= "" # app name, default all
 arch ?= "amd64" # default amd64
 docker_repo ?= "public.ecr.aws/p1t3u8a3"
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ help: ## Prints help for targets with comments
 
 .PHONY: build
 build: ## Build the backend. ee=true for ee build. app=app name for only one app. Default build all apps.
-	IMAGE_TAG=$(image_tag) DOCKER_BUILD_ARGS=$(docker_build_args) DOCKER_REPO=$(docker_repo) ARCH=$(arch) DOCKER_RUNTIME=$(docker_runtime) bash build.sh $(ee) $(app)
+	IMAGE_TAG=$(image_tag) DOCKER_BUILD_ARGS=$(docker_build_args) DOCKER_REPO=$(docker_repo) ARCH=$(arch) DOCKER_RUNTIME=$(docker_runtime) bash build.sh $(distro) $(app)
 
 ##@ Local Dev