diff --git a/.github/workflows/test_hooks.yml b/.github/workflows/test_hooks.yml
index 478fd715..6fe9ffbb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test_hooks.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test_hooks.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - name: Test action step
         uses: ./ # Uses an action in the root directory
+        env:
+          MY_VAR: "bar"
         with:
           github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           source_repo_path: AndreasAugustin/template.git
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 65e29a90..f9d0d82b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -374,6 +374,23 @@ E.q. for the installation phase you need to use commands like `apk add --update
 
 Schema and example for the `templatesync.yml`
 
+**Remark** It is possible to use environment variables within the github action definition usable within the command configuration, e.g.
+
+```yml
+- name: Test action step
+  uses: AndreasAugustin/actions-template-sync@v1
+  env:
+    MY_VAR: "foo"  # possible to define envrionment variables
+  with:
+    github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+    source_repo_path: AndreasAugustin/template.git
+    upstream_branch: main
+    is_dry_run: true
+    is_allow_hooks: true
+```
+
+Please not the double quotes within the following `prepull echo` command
+
 ```yml
 hooks:
   install:
@@ -382,7 +399,7 @@ hooks:
       - python3 --version
   prepull:
     commands:
-      - echo 'hi, we are within the prepull phase'
+      - echo "hi, we are within the prepull phase ${MY_VAR}"
       - echo 'maybe you want to do adjustments on the local code'
   precommit:
     commands:
diff --git a/src/sync_common.sh b/src/sync_common.sh
index e8abc366..7d290366 100755
--- a/src/sync_common.sh
+++ b/src/sync_common.sh
@@ -62,6 +62,6 @@ function cmd_from_yml_file() {
     fi
     readarray cmd_Arr < <(yq "${YML_PATH} | .[]"  "${FILE_NAME}")
 
-    for key in "${cmd_Arr[@]}"; do printf '%s\n' "$(${key})"; done
+    for key in "${cmd_Arr[@]}"; do echo "${key}" | bash; done
   fi
 }
diff --git a/templatesync.yml b/templatesync.yml
index ae3409d5..f8eb2ec9 100644
--- a/templatesync.yml
+++ b/templatesync.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 hooks:
   install:
     commands:
+      - echo "foo ${MY_VAR}"
       - echo 'hi, we are within the prepush phase'
 
   prepush: