diff --git a/webtools/despot/syncit.pl b/webtools/despot/syncit.pl
index f27e28ed0e2..ac1a5297ed6 100755
--- a/webtools/despot/syncit.pl
+++ b/webtools/despot/syncit.pl
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ if ($hostname ne "lounge.mozilla.org") {
 
 $ENV{"HOME"} = glob("~$mylogin"); # CVS wants this.
 
-$ENV{"CVSPASS"} = "./.cvspass";
+$ENV{"CVS_PASSFILE"} = "./.cvspass";
 
 if ($usertoblame eq "") {
     $usertoblame = $mylogin;