diff --git a/src/node_dotenv.cc b/src/node_dotenv.cc
index af7433d2a08369..cd761aab70cd52 100644
--- a/src/node_dotenv.cc
+++ b/src/node_dotenv.cc
@@ -135,8 +135,7 @@ void Dotenv::ParseContent(const std::string_view input) {
     }
 
     // Remove export prefix from key
-    auto have_export = key.compare(0, 7, "export ") == 0;
-    if (have_export) {
+    if (key.starts_with("export ")) {
       key.remove_prefix(7);
     }