diff --git a/roles/lego/files/lego_run.sh b/roles/lego/files/lego_run.sh
index 63be0e8..5da78bf 100644
--- a/roles/lego/files/lego_run.sh
+++ b/roles/lego/files/lego_run.sh
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ if [[ -n "${LEGO_HTTP_FALLBACK_PORT:-}" ]]; then
     echo "nc not found (in PATH), exiting"
     exit 1
   fi
-  nc -z 127.0.0.1 $LEGO_HTTP_PORT;
-  if [[ $? -eq 0 ]]; then
+  nc_exit_code=$(nc -z 127.0.0.1 $LEGO_HTTP_PORT);
+  if [[ $nc_exit_code -eq 0 ]]; then
       LEGO_HTTP_PORT=$LEGO_HTTP_FALLBACK_PORT
   fi
 fi