diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 25b580bc1..b75147256 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -90,3 +90,6 @@ typings/
 
 # DynamoDB Local files
 .dynamodb/
+
+# IDEs
+.idea/
diff --git a/lib/authutil.js b/lib/authutil.js
index 6da4630b6..ef9531fab 100644
--- a/lib/authutil.js
+++ b/lib/authutil.js
@@ -43,7 +43,9 @@ function writeRegistryToFile(registryUrl, fileLocation, alwaysAuth) {
         });
     }
     // Remove http: or https: from front of registry.
-    const authString = registryUrl.replace(/(^\w+:|^)/, '') + ':_authToken=${NODE_AUTH_TOKEN}';
+    const authString = registryUrl.replace(/(^\w+:|^)/, '') +
+        ':_authToken=' +
+        process.env['NODE_AUTH_TOKEN'];
     const registryString = scope
         ? `${scope}:registry=${registryUrl}`
         : `registry=${registryUrl}`;
diff --git a/src/authutil.ts b/src/authutil.ts
index 07e0b24cb..b58ceb7ba 100644
--- a/src/authutil.ts
+++ b/src/authutil.ts
@@ -45,7 +45,9 @@ function writeRegistryToFile(
   }
   // Remove http: or https: from front of registry.
   const authString: string =
-    registryUrl.replace(/(^\w+:|^)/, '') + ':_authToken=${NODE_AUTH_TOKEN}';
+    registryUrl.replace(/(^\w+:|^)/, '') +
+    ':_authToken=' +
+    process.env['NODE_AUTH_TOKEN'];
   const registryString: string = scope
     ? `${scope}:registry=${registryUrl}`
     : `registry=${registryUrl}`;