diff --git a/functions.sh b/functions.sh
index 0fc28de..d01533e 100644
--- a/functions.sh
+++ b/functions.sh
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ ensure_container_not_exists () {
 
 # check: container ${1} is running?
 check_container_running () {
-  [[ "podman container inspect -f '{{.State.Status}}' ${1}" == "running" ]]
+  [[ `podman container inspect -f '{{.State.Status}}' ${1}` == "running" ]]
 }
 
 # ok if container is running
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ ensure_pod_not_exists () {
 
 # check: pod ${1} is running?
 check_pod_running () {
-  [[ "podman pod inspect -f '{{.State}}' ${1}" == "Running" ]]
+  [[ `podman pod inspect -f '{{.State}}' ${1}` == "Running" ]]
 }
 
 # ok if pod is running