diff --git a/lib/plugins/environments.js b/lib/plugins/environments.js
index e146bf666..526fef96a 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/environments.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/environments.js
@@ -6,18 +6,6 @@ module.exports = class Environments extends Diffable {
   constructor (...args) {
     super(...args)
 
-    if (this.entries) {
-      // Force all names to lowercase to avoid comparison issues.
-      this.entries.forEach(environment => {
-        environment.name = environment.name.toLowerCase()
-        if (environment.variables) {
-          environment.variables.forEach(variable => {
-            variable.name = variable.name.toLowerCase()
-          })
-        }
-      })
-    }
-
     // Remove 'name' from filtering list so Environments with only a name defined are processed.
     MergeDeep.NAME_FIELDS.splice(MergeDeep.NAME_FIELDS.indexOf('name'), 1)
   }
@@ -53,7 +41,7 @@ module.exports = class Environments extends Diffable {
           org: this.repo.owner,
           repo: this.repo.repo,
           environment_name: environment.name
-        })).data.variables.map(variable => ({ name: variable.name.toLowerCase(), value: variable.value })),
+        })).data.variables.map(variable => ({ name: variable.name, value: variable.value })),
         deployment_protection_rules: (await this.github.request('GET /repos/:org/:repo/environments/:environment_name/deployment_protection_rules', {
           org: this.repo.owner,
           repo: this.repo.repo,
@@ -106,7 +94,7 @@ module.exports = class Environments extends Diffable {
       )
     }
 
-    const variables = JSON.stringify(existing.variables.sort((x1, x2) => x1.name - x2.name)) !== JSON.stringify(attrs.variables.sort((x1, x2) => x1.name - x2.name))
+    const variables = JSON.stringify(existing.variables.sort((x1, x2) => x1.name.toLowerCase() - x2.name.toLowerCase())) !== JSON.stringify(attrs.variables.sort((x1, x2) => x1.name.toLowerCase() - x2.name.toLowerCase()))
     const deployment_protection_rules = JSON.stringify(existing.deployment_protection_rules.map(x => ({ app_id: x.app_id })).sort((x1, x2) => x1.app_id - x2.app_id)) !== JSON.stringify(attrs.deployment_protection_rules.map(x => ({ app_id: x.app_id })).sort((x1, x2) => x1.app_id - x2.app_id))
 
     return { wait_timer, prevent_self_review, reviewers, deployment_branch_policy, variables, deployment_protection_rules }
@@ -168,9 +156,9 @@ module.exports = class Environments extends Diffable {
       let existingVariables = [...existing.variables]
 
       for (const variable of attrs.variables) {
-        const existingVariable = existingVariables.find((_var) => _var.name === variable.name)
+        const existingVariable = existingVariables.find((_var) => _var.name.toLowerCase() === variable.name.toLowerCase())
         if (existingVariable) {
-          existingVariables = existingVariables.filter(_var => _var.name !== variable.name)
+          existingVariables = existingVariables.filter(_var => _var.name.toLowerCase() !== variable.name.toLowerCase())
           if (existingVariable.value !== variable.value) {
             await this.github.request('PATCH /repos/:org/:repo/environments/:environment_name/variables/:variable_name', {
               org: this.repo.owner,
diff --git a/test/unit/lib/plugins/environments.test.js b/test/unit/lib/plugins/environments.test.js
index efa97e039..3fba8bf9c 100644
--- a/test/unit/lib/plugins/environments.test.js
+++ b/test/unit/lib/plugins/environments.test.js
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ describe('Environments Plugin test suite', () => {
           name: environment_name,
           variables: [
             {
-              name: 'test',
+              name: 'TEST',
               value: 'test'
             }
           ]
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ describe('Environments Plugin test suite', () => {
           org,
           repo,
           environment_name: environment_name,
-          name: 'test',
+          name: 'TEST',
           value: 'test'
         }));
       })
@@ -414,7 +414,73 @@ describe('Environments Plugin test suite', () => {
           name: environment_name,
           variables: [
             {
-              name: 'test',
+              name: 'TEST',
+              value: 'test'
+            }
+          ]
+        }
+      ], log, errors);
+
+      //model an existing environment with no reviewers
+      when(github.request)
+        .calledWith('GET /repos/:org/:repo/environments', { org, repo })
+        .mockResolvedValue({
+          data: {
+            environments: [
+              fillEnvironment({
+                name: environment_name,
+                variables: []
+              })
+            ]
+          }
+        });
+
+      when(github.request)
+        .calledWith('GET /repos/:org/:repo/environments/:environment_name/variables', { org, repo, environment_name })
+        .mockResolvedValue({
+          data: {
+            variables: [
+              {
+                name: 'TEST',
+                value: 'old'
+              },
+              {
+                name: 'TEST2',
+                value: 'test2'
+              }
+            ]
+          }
+        })
+
+      //act - run sync() in environments.js
+      await plugin.sync().then(() => {
+        //assert - update the variables
+        expect(github.request).toHaveBeenCalledWith('GET /repos/:org/:repo/environments', { org, repo });
+        expect(github.request).toHaveBeenCalledWith('GET /repos/:org/:repo/environments/:environment_name/variables', { org, repo, environment_name });
+        expect(github.request).toHaveBeenCalledWith('GET /repos/:org/:repo/environments/:environment_name/deployment_protection_rules', { org, repo, environment_name });
+        expect(github.request).toHaveBeenCalledWith('PATCH /repos/:org/:repo/environments/:environment_name/variables/:variable_name', expect.objectContaining({
+          org,
+          repo,
+          environment_name: environment_name,
+          variable_name: 'TEST',
+          value: 'test'
+        }));
+      })
+    })
+  })
+
+  // patch variable
+  describe('When there are existing lowercase variables and one requires an update', () => {
+    it('detect divergence and add the variable', async () => {
+      //arrange
+      environment_name = 'variables_environment'
+      // represent config with a reviewers being a user and a team
+      const plugin = new Environments(undefined, github, { owner: org, repo }, [
+        {
+          name: environment_name,
+          variables: [
+            {
+              name: 'TEST',
               value: 'test'
             }
           ]
@@ -462,7 +528,7 @@ describe('Environments Plugin test suite', () => {
           org,
           repo,
           environment_name: environment_name,
-          variable_name: 'test',
+          variable_name: 'TEST',
           value: 'test'
         }));
       })
@@ -702,7 +768,7 @@ describe('Environments Plugin test suite', () => {
           name: 'variables_environment',
           variables: [
             {
-              name: 'test',
+              name: 'TEST',
               value: 'test'
             }
           ]
@@ -844,7 +910,7 @@ describe('Environments Plugin test suite', () => {
             org,
             repo,
             environment_name: 'variables_environment',
-            name: 'test',
+            name: 'TEST',
             value: 'test'
         }));
 
@@ -906,7 +972,7 @@ describe('Environments Plugin test suite', () => {
           name: 'variables_environment',
           variables: [
             {
-              name: 'test',
+              name: 'TEST',
               value: 'test'
             }
           ]
@@ -961,7 +1027,7 @@ describe('Environments Plugin test suite', () => {
             name: 'new-variables',
             variables: [
                 {
-                    name: 'test',
+                    name: 'TEST',
                     value: 'test'
                 }
             ]
@@ -1103,7 +1169,7 @@ describe('Environments Plugin test suite', () => {
             org,
             repo,
             environment_name: 'variables_environment',
-            name: 'test',
+            name: 'TEST',
             value: 'test'
         }));