diff --git a/etc/settings.csh b/etc/settings.csh
index 27bb9563cc..a9c7db7118 100644
--- a/etc/settings.csh
+++ b/etc/settings.csh
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ unsetenv MPFR_ARCH_PATH
 # Location of compiler installation
 # ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 if ( ! $?foamCompiler ) then
-    foamCompiler=system
+    set foamCompiler=system
     echo "Warning in $WM_PROJECT_DIR/etc/settings.csh:"
     echo "    foamCompiler not set, using '$foamCompiler'"
 endif