diff --git a/.github/workflows/functional-test.yaml b/.github/workflows/functional-test.yaml
index 6a648a1f89..820465e544 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/functional-test.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/functional-test.yaml
@@ -653,20 +653,24 @@ jobs:
           app_id: ${{ env.FUNCTIONAL_TEST_APP_ID }}
           private_key: ${{ secrets.FUNCTIONAL_TEST_APP_PRIVATE_KEY }}
       - name: Get tests job status
-        run: | 
+        id: get_test_status
+        run: |
+          TEST_STATUS=failure # default to failure
           # from: https://github.com/orgs/community/discussions/26526#discussioncomment-3252209
           jobstatus=$(curl -X GET -s -u "admin:${{ steps.get_installation_token.outputs.token }}" https://api.github.com/repos/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}/jobs | jq ".jobs[] | {job_status: .conclusion, matrix: .name}")
           # if jobstatus contains failure
           if echo "$jobstatus" | grep -q "failure"; then
-            echo "TEST_STATUS=failure" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+            TEST_STATUS=failure
           elif echo "$jobstatus" | grep -q "cancelled"; then
-            echo "TEST_STATUS=cancelled" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+            TEST_STATUS=cancelled
           else
-            echo "TEST_STATUS=success" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+            # if no failures, then it's a success
+            TEST_STATUS=success
           fi
 
           echo "Test Status: $jobstatus"
-          echo "Setting test status to $TEST_STATUS"
+          echo "Test Status: $TEST_STATUS"
+          echo "test_status=$TEST_STATUS" >> $GITHUB_ENV
       - uses: LouisBrunner/checks-action@v1.6.1
         if: always()
         with:
@@ -675,7 +679,7 @@ jobs:
           repo: ${{ github.repository }}
           sha: ${{ env.CHECKOUT_REF }}
           status: completed
-          conclusion: ${{ env.TEST_STATUS }}
+          conclusion: ${{ steps.get_test_status.outputs.test_status }}
           output: |
             {"summary":"Functional Test run completed. See links for more information.","title":"Functional Test Run"}
           details_url: ${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}