diff --git a/home/base/desktop/zellij/default.nix b/home/base/desktop/zellij/default.nix
index b6e13ba6..57478851 100644
--- a/home/base/desktop/zellij/default.nix
+++ b/home/base/desktop/zellij/default.nix
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ in {
   programs.nushell.extraConfig = ''
     # auto start zellij
     # except when in emacs or zellij itself
-    if (not "ZELLIJ" in $env) and (not "INSIDE_EMACS" in $env) {
+    if (not ("ZELLIJ" in $env)) and (not ("INSIDE_EMACS" in $env)) {
       if "ZELLIJ_AUTO_ATTACH" in $env and $env.ZELLIJ_AUTO_ATTACH == "true" {
         ^zellij attach -c
       } else {