diff --git a/.vars b/.vars
index ab1f93c..7c8066f 100644
--- a/.vars
+++ b/.vars
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 #/usr/bin/env bash
 
-"${DEPLOYMENT_HOST:=docker.infra.bjphoster.cloud}"
-"${DEPLOYMENT_PATH:=/opt/pedini.dev}"
+export DEPLOYMENT_HOST=docker.infra.bjphoster.cloud
+export DEPLOYMENT_PATH=/opt/pedini.dev
diff --git a/deploy.sh b/deploy.sh
index 5331b35..2cf71d3 100755
--- a/deploy.sh
+++ b/deploy.sh
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ set -e
 # then remove everything in the data path, untar the tarball and reload the server
 # finally remove the tarball, both from the remote host and locally (cleanup)
 
+if [ -t 0 ]; then # Interactive: prompt user
+  source .vars
+fi
+
 # Check if the username variable is set
 if [ ! -z "${SSH_USERNAME}" ]; then
     SSH_USERNAME="${SSH_USERNAME}@"
diff --git a/makefile b/makefile
index 3e8f55a..2184bec 100644
--- a/makefile
+++ b/makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 #!make
-include .vars
 
 default: build