diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/proposer-apply-pr.yml b/.gitea/workflows/proposer-apply-pr.yml
index 90b2003..60968da 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/proposer-apply-pr.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/proposer-apply-pr.yml
@@ -172,6 +172,8 @@ jobs:
             "$API_BASE/api/v1/repos/$OWNER/$REPO/pulls?state=open&limit=100" \
             -o /tmp/open_pulls.json
 
+          export TARGET_ISSUES="${TARGET_ISSUES:-}"
+
           node --input-type=module - <<'NODE' >> /tmp/proposer.env
           import fs from "node:fs";
 
@@ -209,10 +211,9 @@ jobs:
             out.push(`OPEN_PR_URL=${JSON.stringify(String(first.html_url || first.url || ""))}`);
             out.push(`OPEN_PR_BRANCH=${JSON.stringify(String(first?.head?.ref || ""))}`);
           }
+
           process.stdout.write(out.join("\n") + (out.length ? "\n" : ""));
           NODE
-        env:
-          TARGET_ISSUES: ${{ env.TARGET_ISSUES }}
 
       - name: Comment issue if queued / skipped
         if: ${{ always() }}
@@ -529,7 +530,7 @@ jobs:
               head: `${process.env.OWNER}:${process.env.BRANCH}`,
               allow_maintainer_edit: true
             }));
-NODE
+          NODE
           )"
 
           PR_JSON="$(curl -fsS -X POST \