diff --git a/serialize.cpp b/serialize.cpp
index dde256a..5060c9a 100644
--- a/serialize.cpp
+++ b/serialize.cpp
@@ -78,12 +78,15 @@
             std::string envVars;
             std::getline(input, envVars);
 
-            if (envVars.find(versionId) != std::string::npos)
+            std::string versionVar = versionId + "=";
+            auto varPosition = envVars.find(versionVar);
+
+            if (varPosition != std::string::npos)
             {
                 // Grab the environment variable for this versionId. These
                 // variables follow the format "versionId=priority\0"
-                auto var = envVars.substr(envVars.find(versionId));
-                priority = std::stoi(var.substr(var.find('=') + 1));
+                auto var = envVars.substr(varPosition);
+                priority = std::stoi(var.substr(versionVar.length()));
                 return true;
             }
         }