diff --git a/bin/emqx_ctl b/bin/emqx_ctl
index 4c3aaa1ca..d3954710c 100755
--- a/bin/emqx_ctl
+++ b/bin/emqx_ctl
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ relx_nodetool() {
     command="$1"; shift
 
     ERL_FLAGS="$ERL_FLAGS $EPMD_ARG $PROTO_DIST_ARG" \
-    ERL_LIBS="${LIB_EKKA_DIR}:${ERL_LIBS:-}" \
     "$ERTS_DIR/bin/escript" "$ROOTDIR/bin/nodetool" "$NAME_TYPE" "$NAME" \
                                 -setcookie "$COOKIE" "$command" "$@"
 }