diff --git a/scripts/docs/update_docs.sh b/scripts/docs/update_docs.sh
index b63af8472..a6e4a84c0 100755
--- a/scripts/docs/update_docs.sh
+++ b/scripts/docs/update_docs.sh
@@ -23,10 +23,8 @@ function run {
   # CD in to the site dir to commit updated docs
   cd $SITE_DIR
 
-  CHANGES=$(git status --porcelain)
-
   # if no changes, don't commit
-  if [[ "$CHANGES" == "" ]]; then
+  if [[ `git status --porcelain` ]]; then
     echo "-- No changes detected for the following commit, docs not updated."
     echo "https://github.com/driftyco/$CIRCLE_PROJECT_REPONAME/commit/$CIRCLE_SHA1"
   else