diff --git a/rust/operator-binary/src/controller.rs b/rust/operator-binary/src/controller.rs
index acdc4159..281f0a12 100644
--- a/rust/operator-binary/src/controller.rs
+++ b/rust/operator-binary/src/controller.rs
@@ -1181,7 +1181,7 @@ fn build_opa_start_command(merged_config: &OpaConfig, container_name: &str) -> S
         {COMMON_BASH_TRAP_FUNCTIONS}
         {remove_vector_shutdown_file_command}
         prepare_signal_handlers
-        CONTAINERDEBUG_LOG_DIRECTORY={STACKABLE_LOG_DIR}/containerdebug containerdebug --output={STACKABLE_LOG_DIR}/containerdebug-state.json --loop &
+        containerdebug --output={STACKABLE_LOG_DIR}/containerdebug-state.json --loop &
         opa run -s -a 0.0.0.0:{APP_PORT} -c {CONFIG_DIR}/{CONFIG_FILE} -l {opa_log_level} --shutdown-grace-period {shutdown_grace_period_s} --disable-telemetry {logging_redirects} &
         wait_for_termination $!
         {create_vector_shutdown_file_command}