diff --git a/templates/lxc-alpine.in b/templates/lxc-alpine.in
index bc4eee4ded..c78795cb0d 100644
--- a/templates/lxc-alpine.in
+++ b/templates/lxc-alpine.in
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ setup_network() {
 	cat <<-EOF > etc/network/interfaces
 		auto eth0
 		iface eth0 inet dhcp
-		hostname $(hostname)
+		hostname \$(hostname)
 	EOF
 }