diff --git a/container/start.sh b/container/start.sh
index 2ae3553be..0897b83e3 100755
--- a/container/start.sh
+++ b/container/start.sh
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ case $1 in
     [[ -n "${KARAPACE_REGISTRY_PORT+isset}" ]] && export KARAPACE_PORT="${KARAPACE_REGISTRY_PORT}"
     [[ -n "${KARAPACE_REGISTRY_CLIENT_ID+isset}" ]] && export KARAPACE_CLIENT_ID="${KARAPACE_REGISTRY_CLIENT_ID}"
     [[ -n "${KARAPACE_REGISTRY_GROUP_ID+isset}" ]] && export KARAPACE_GROUP_ID="${KARAPACE_REGISTRY_GROUP_ID}"
+    # Map misspelt environment variable to correct spelling for backwards compatibility.
+    [[ -n "${KARAPACE_REGISTRY_MASTER_ELIGIBITY+isset}" ]] && export KARAPACE_MASTER_ELIGIBILITY="${KARAPACE_REGISTRY_MASTER_ELIGIBITY}"
     [[ -n "${KARAPACE_REGISTRY_MASTER_ELIGIBILITY+isset}" ]] && export KARAPACE_MASTER_ELIGIBILITY="${KARAPACE_REGISTRY_MASTER_ELIGIBILITY}"
     [[ -n "${KARAPACE_REGISTRY_TOPIC_NAME+isset}" ]] && export KARAPACE_TOPIC_NAME="${KARAPACE_REGISTRY_TOPIC_NAME}"
     [[ -n "${KARAPACE_REGISTRY_COMPATIBILITY+isset}" ]] && export KARAPACE_COMPATIBILITY="${KARAPACE_REGISTRY_COMPATIBILITY}"