diff --git a/ci-automation/vendor_test.sh b/ci-automation/vendor_test.sh
index 443add5821..f0d657e36d 100644
--- a/ci-automation/vendor_test.sh
+++ b/ci-automation/vendor_test.sh
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ function run_kola_tests_on_instances() {
         fi
     done
 
-    local -a main_tests
+    local main_tests=()
 
     filter_out_prefixed_tests main_tests "${@}"
     if [[ "${#main_tests[@]}" -gt 0 ]]; then