diff --git a/content/manuals/compose/how-tos/startup-order.md b/content/manuals/compose/how-tos/startup-order.md
index 1d55fd5ee14d..ae4e2c62e234 100644
--- a/content/manuals/compose/how-tos/startup-order.md
+++ b/content/manuals/compose/how-tos/startup-order.md
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ services:
   db:
     image: postgres
     healthcheck:
-      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U ${POSTGRES_USER} -d ${POSTGRES_DB}"]
+      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -U $${POSTGRES_USER} -d $${POSTGRES_DB}"]
       interval: 10s
       retries: 5
       start_period: 30s