diff --git a/build/common/commands/new.py b/build/common/commands/new.py
index 80332a1e..c951e63e 100644
--- a/build/common/commands/new.py
+++ b/build/common/commands/new.py
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ site_name = os.environ.get("SITE_NAME", 'site1.localhost')
 mariadb_root_username = os.environ.get("DB_ROOT_USER", 'root')
 mariadb_root_password = os.environ.get("MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD", 'admin')
 force = True if os.environ.get("FORCE", None) else False
-install_apps = if os.environ.get("INSTALL_APPS").split(",") else []
+install_apps = os.environ.get("INSTALL_APPS", None)
+install_apps = install_apps.split(',') if install_apps else []
 frappe.init(site_name, new_site=True)
 
 _new_site(