diff --git a/scripts/nym-node-setup/network-tunnel-manager.sh b/scripts/nym-node-setup/network-tunnel-manager.sh
index 6982e74baa..0cc57d5fb7 100644
--- a/scripts/nym-node-setup/network-tunnel-manager.sh
+++ b/scripts/nym-node-setup/network-tunnel-manager.sh
@@ -935,17 +935,17 @@ exit_policy_run_tests() {
   local failed=0
 
   test_forward_chain_hook || ((failed += 1))
-  ((total++))
+  ((total += 1))
 
   test_port_range_rules || ((failed += 1))
-  ((total++))
+  ((total += 1))
 
   test_critical_services || ((failed += 1))
-  ((total++))
+  ((total += 1))
 
   if [[ $skip_default -eq 0 ]]; then
     test_default_reject_rule || ((failed += 1))
-    ((total++))
+    ((total += 1))
   fi
 
   echo "tests run: $total, failures: $failed"