diff --git a/plugin.sh b/plugin.sh
index a0d89c3..224094c 100755
--- a/plugin.sh
+++ b/plugin.sh
@@ -5,8 +5,11 @@ set -e
 PLUGIN_COMPOSE=${PLUGIN_COMPOSE:-compose.yml}
 PLUGIN_HOST=${PLUGIN_HOST:-swarm.autonomic.zone}
 PLUGIN_PORT=${PLUGIN_PORT:-222}
+PLUGIN_PURGE=${PLUGIN_PURGE:-"false"}
 PLUGIN_USER=${PLUGIN_USER:-drone}
 
+export DOCKER_HOST="ssh://$PLUGIN_USER@$PLUGIN_HOST:$PLUGIN_PORT"
+
 generate_secrets() {
   echo "--- start secrets ---"
   # FIXME 3wc: use the yq docker image instead; couldn't easily get it working
@@ -36,9 +39,10 @@ run_stack_deploy() {
   docker version
   echo "--- end docker info ---"
 
-  docker \
-    -H "ssh://$PLUGIN_USER@$PLUGIN_HOST:$PLUGIN_PORT" \
-    stack deploy -c "$PLUGIN_COMPOSE" "$PLUGIN_STACK"
+run_stack_deploy() {
+  echo "--- start deploy ---"
+  docker stack deploy -c "$PLUGIN_COMPOSE" "$PLUGIN_STACK"
+  echo "--- end deploy ---"
 }
 
 run_stack_wait() {