diff --git a/target/scripts/startup/variables-stack.sh b/target/scripts/startup/variables-stack.sh
index 54de70ae..7bcfe234 100644
--- a/target/scripts/startup/variables-stack.sh
+++ b/target/scripts/startup/variables-stack.sh
@@ -249,24 +249,27 @@ function __environment_variables_export() {
 # This function sets any environment variable with a value from a referenced file
 # when an equivalent ENV with a `__FILE` suffix exists with a valid file path as the value.
 function __environment_variables_from_files() {
-  for ENV_WITH_FILE_REF in $(env | grep -Po '^.+?__FILE'); do
+  while read -r ENV_WITH_FILE_REF; do
     # Store the ENV name without the `__FILE` suffix:
-    local TARGET_ENV="${ENV_WITH_FILE_REF/__FILE/}"
+    local TARGET_ENV_NAME="${ENV_WITH_FILE_REF/__FILE/}"
+    local -n TARGET_ENV="${ENV_WITH_FILE_REF/__FILE/}"
     # Store the value of the `__FILE` ENV:
     local FILE_PATH="${!ENV_WITH_FILE_REF}"
 
-    # Skip sourcing form `__FILE` if ENV is already set:
-    if [[ -n "${!TARGET_ENV}" ]]; then
-      _log 'warn' "ENV value will not be sourced from '${ENV_WITH_FILE_REF}' since '${TARGET_ENV}' is already set"
+    # Skip sourcing from `__FILE` if ENV is already set:
+    if [[ -v TARGET_ENV ]]; then
+      _log 'warn' "Ignoring '${TARGET_ENV_NAME}' since '${ENV_WITH_FILE_REF}' is also set"
       continue
     fi
 
-    # Otherwise retrieve the value from file and set the ENV or fail if invalid reference:
-    if [[ -f "${FILE_PATH}" ]]; then
-      _log 'info' "Getting secret ${TARGET_ENV} from ${FILE_PATH}"
-      printf -v "${TARGET_ENV}" '%s' "$(< "${FILE_PATH}")"
-    else
-      _log 'error' "File ${FILE_PATH} does not exist, defined in ${ENV_WITH_FILE_REF}"
+    # Otherwise, retrieve the value from a file and set
+    # the ENV, or fail if the reference is invalid:
+    if [[ ! -f ${FILE_PATH} ]]; then
+      _log 'warn' "File defined for secret '${TARGET_ENV_NAME}' with path '${FILE_PATH}' does not exist"
+      continue
     fi
-  done
+
+    _log 'info' "Getting secret '${TARGET_ENV_NAME}' from '${FILE_PATH}'"
+    TARGET_ENV="$(< "${FILE_PATH}")"
+  done < <(env | grep -Po '^.+?__FILE')
 }