# Configtest does not support using environment variables

**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/configtest-does-not-support-using-environment-variables/52931
**Category:** Logstash
**Created:** [June 16, 2016, 12:26am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/configtest-does-not-support-using-environment-variables/52931 "2016-06-16T00:26:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![JPvRiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f14d63/32.png) [@JPvRiel](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/JPvRiel)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2016, 12:26am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/configtest-does-not-support-using-environment-variables/52931/1 "2016-06-16T00:26:33Z")

</div>

As per [https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/logstash/current/environment-variables.html](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/logstash/current/environment-variables.html)

Tried v2.3 and v5.0

E.g.  
`$ export LS_BEATS_IN_PORT=5044`

sample config file

```auto
    input {
      beats {
        port => ${LS_BEATS_IN_PORT}
      }
    }

```

And it fails

```auto
$ bin/logstash -t -f test.conf
The given configuration is invalid. Reason: Expected one of #, ", ', -, [, { at line 3, column 13 (byte 31) after input {
  beats {
    port => {:level=>:fatal}

```

If I replace with a number, it works.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![magnusbaeck](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/magnusbaeck/32/44943_2.png) [@magnusbaeck](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/magnusbaeck)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2016, 5:38am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/configtest-does-not-support-using-environment-variables/52931/2 "2016-06-20T05:38:51Z")

</div>

Use a double-quoted string:

```
port => "${LS_BEATS_IN_PORT}"
```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2017, 4:51am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/configtest-does-not-support-using-environment-variables/52931/3 "2017-07-06T04:51:58Z")

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