diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 49e1433..284bc27 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,5 +8,5 @@ mv skratch.py /usr/bin/skratch
 
 set an env variable for $EDITOR and/or $VISUAL in .bashrc
 
-EDITOR=vi
-VISUAL=geany
+export EDITOR=vi
+export VISUAL=geany