diff --git a/.github/workflows/precompiled.yaml b/.github/workflows/precompiled.yaml
index 04f5902a..7aa73269 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/precompiled.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/precompiled.yaml
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ jobs:
           combined_values=$(printf '%s\n' "${kernel_versions[@]}" | jq -R . | jq -s -c .  | tr -d ' \n')
           echo "Combined Kernel Versions JSON: $combined_values"
           # FIXME -- remove once azure kernel upgrade starts working
-          exclude_combined_values=$(printf '%s\n' "${kernel_versions[@]}" | jq 'map(select(test("azure")))' | jq -R . | jq -s -c .  | tr -d ' \n')
+          exclude_combined_values=$(printf '%s\n' "${kernel_versions[@]}" | jq -R . | jq -s -c 'map(select(test("azure")))')
           # exclude_combined_values=$(echo "$combined_values" | jq 'map(select(test("azure")))')
           echo "exclude_combined_values Kernel Versions : $exclude_combined_values"
           echo "matrix_values=$combined_values" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT