diff --git a/distribution/rpm/src/main/packaging/init.d/elasticsearch b/distribution/rpm/src/main/packaging/init.d/elasticsearch
index 6d1f3a4321e58..d6fb7490328b2 100644
--- a/distribution/rpm/src/main/packaging/init.d/elasticsearch
+++ b/distribution/rpm/src/main/packaging/init.d/elasticsearch
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ export ES_JAVA_OPTS
 export ES_GC_LOG_FILE
 export ES_STARTUP_SLEEP_TIME
 export JAVA_HOME
+export ES_INCLUDE
 
 lockfile=/var/lock/subsys/$prog