diff --git a/modules/local/download_proteins.nf b/modules/local/download_proteins.nf
index b1172617..2736463d 100644
--- a/modules/local/download_proteins.nf
+++ b/modules/local/download_proteins.nf
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ process DOWNLOAD_PROTEINS {
         'biocontainers/biopython:1.78' }"
 
     input:
+    env    NCBI_EMAIL
+    env    NCBI_KEY
     val    microbiome_ids
     path   microbiome_files
 
diff --git a/tests/pipeline/test_taxa_specific_assembly.nf.test b/tests/pipeline/test_taxa_specific_assembly.nf.test
index 3a2f9993..3265a49d 100644
--- a/tests/pipeline/test_taxa_specific_assembly.nf.test
+++ b/tests/pipeline/test_taxa_specific_assembly.nf.test
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ nextflow_pipeline {
         when {
             params {
                 outdir = "$outputDir"
-                ncbi_email = "\\\${NCBI_EMAIL}"
-                ncbi_key = '\\\${NCBI_KEY}'
+                ncbi_email = "\${NCBI_EMAIL}"
+                ncbi_key = '\${NCBI_KEY}'
             }
         }