diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 2439bf74cbcc001eb46cbed5107c2bded878c6a3..85a9bf7e5df1ae107f16476389beac4064ccda40 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 variables:
   DOCKERFILE_DEB: "${CI_PROJECT_DIR}/gitlab-ci/Dockerfile_DEB"
   IMAGE_TARGET_DEB: "${CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE}/debian12_validate_workflows_build_env"
+  IMAGE_BASE_DEB: "sdvharbor.slub-dresden.de/replication/debian:bookworm-slim"
 
 stages:          # List of stages for jobs, and their order of execution
   - build-env
@@ -89,12 +90,15 @@ package-debian-job:
       # package name: validate_workflows_[VERSION]-[REVISION]_[ARCHITECTURE].deb
       - "*.deb"
 
-install-debian-job:
+test-install-debian-job:
   stage: test-package
   timeout: 5m
   image:
-    name: "${IMAGE_TARGET_DEB}:latest"
+    # HINT: debian base image to simulate an installation target
+    name: "${IMAGE_BASE_DEB}"
   tags:
     - "docker"
   script:
-    - apt install -y ./validate_workflows*.deb
\ No newline at end of file
+    - apt update
+    - apt install -y ./validate_workflows*.deb
+    - validate_workflow.sh -h"