diff --git a/ariadne/k8s/exec.py b/ariadne/k8s/exec.py
index ade0003..4ef3f96 100644
--- a/ariadne/k8s/exec.py
+++ b/ariadne/k8s/exec.py
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ def _build_command(command: list[str] | str, env: dict[str, str] | None) -> list
     else:
         cmd_str = shlex.join(command)
     if env:
-        prefix = " ".join(f"{key}={shlex.quote(value)}" for key, value in env.items())
-        cmd_str = f"{prefix} {cmd_str}"
+        exports = "; ".join(f"export {key}={shlex.quote(value)}" for key, value in env.items())
+        cmd_str = f"{exports}; {cmd_str}"
     return ["/bin/sh", "-c", cmd_str]
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_k8s_exec.py b/tests/test_k8s_exec.py
index c295ebf..dc678be 100644
--- a/tests/test_k8s_exec.py
+++ b/tests/test_k8s_exec.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ class HangingStream(DummyStream):
 def test_build_command_wraps_env() -> None:
     cmd = _build_command(["echo", "hello"], {"FOO": "bar"})
     assert cmd[0] == "/bin/sh"
-    assert "FOO=bar" in cmd[2]
+    assert "export FOO=bar" in cmd[2]
 
 
 def test_exec_returns_output(monkeypatch) -> None: