diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 502c9d433e1..1e5abb4c3b5 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ ldflags = "-X "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/repo/config".CurrentCommit=$(COMMIT)"
 MAKEFLAGS += --no-print-directory
 
 
-IPFS_API = "https://v04x.ipfs.io"
+export IPFS_API = v04x.ipfs.io
 
 all: help