diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 458bbe7..93fb718 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ generate_pot:
 	wp i18n make-pot kit kit/languages/kit.pot # generate source file
 	for lang in "de_DE" "fr_FR"; do \
 	   # update translated language file \
-		msgmerge -N kit/languages/$lang.po kit/languages/kit.pot > kit/languages/$lang.po ; \
+		msgmerge -N kit/languages/$${lang}.po kit/languages/kit.pot > kit/languages/$${lang}.po ; \
 		# generate mo file \
-		msgfmt -o kit/languages/$lang.mo kit/languages/$lang.po ; \
+		msgfmt -o kit/languages/$${lang}.mo kit/languages/$${lang}.po ; \
 	done