diff --git a/spcd/shell.py b/spcd/shell.py
index f9f9b33..f0c7f8c 100644
--- a/spcd/shell.py
+++ b/spcd/shell.py
@@ -3,3 +3,8 @@
 import importlib
 
 env = importlib.import_module("env")
+
+try:
+    step = int(env.SPCD_STEP)
+except AttributeError:
+    step = 1
diff --git a/spcd/util.py b/spcd/util.py
index a77691a..76cb0f0 100644
--- a/spcd/util.py
+++ b/spcd/util.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from urllib.parse import urlparse, urlunparse
 from rwx import fs
 from rwx.log import stream as log
 
-from spcd.shell import env
+from spcd import env, shell
 
 
 def add_url_path(url: str, extra_path: str) -> str:
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def split() -> None:
 
 def step(text: str) -> None:
     """Increment the step number of the current build process."""
-    env.SPCD_STEP += 1
+    shell.step += 1
     log.info(env.SPCD_DOWN)
-    log.info(f"{env.SPCD_VERT} {env.SPCD_STEP} {text}")
+    log.info(f"{env.SPCD_VERT} {shell.step} {text}")
     log.info(env.SPCD___UP)