diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 2cf0056e41e86c32c7bb8ed15b897a69748a2d41..dc6fb8f3bac571a88bfd42c31ccf30e7a8ac5c05 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ test-job-debian12:
   stage: test
   tags:
     - "shell"
-  vars:
+  variables:
     SCENARIO: "virtualbox_debian12"
   script:
     # make sure that Ansible Vaults are present and can be decrypted
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ test-job-alma8:
   stage: test
   tags:
     - "shell"
-  vars:
+  variables:
     SCENARIO: "virtualbox_alma8"
   script:
     # make sure that Ansible Vaults are present and can be decrypted