diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yaml b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yaml
index f2d8dba..4605477 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yaml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yaml
@@ -28,13 +28,13 @@ jobs:
           else
             CHANGED=$(git diff --name-only HEAD~1)
           fi
-          APPS="[]"
+          APPS=""
           for app in web api harness; do
             if echo "$CHANGED" | grep -qE "^(apps/${app}/|packages/)"; then
-              APPS=$(echo "$APPS" | jq -c ". + [\"${app}\"]")
+              APPS="${APPS:+$APPS,}\"${app}\""
             fi
           done
-          echo "apps=$APPS" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "apps=[${APPS}]" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
 
   lint-and-test:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest