diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 7f1a165a5c4c2c4889deb5b226cad2a524d80e6a..068ee6be961efee2f138d95d0534c838b35c2051 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -71,8 +71,6 @@ local-install-debian-job:   # This job runs in the test stage.
     # run headless verapdf installation
     - "${VERAPDF_UNZIP_DIR}/verapdf-install" "${AUTO_INSTALL_XML_PATH}"
     # test call verapdf
-    # HINT: shell pipe requires subshell
-    - CALL_VERAPDF=$("${INSTALL_PATH_DEB}/verapdf" --version | grep "${VERAPDF_VERSION}")
 
 package-debian-job:
   stage: package-verapdf
@@ -83,6 +81,7 @@ package-debian-job:
     - "docker"
   script:
     # HINT: current working dir == '/builds/digital-preservation/verapdf_package_build' as root
+    - ${INSTALL_PATH_VERAPDF_DEB}/verapdf --version | grep "${VERAPDF_VERSION}"
     # retrieve version infos
     - REVISION="1"
     - ARCHITECTURE="all"
@@ -117,5 +116,4 @@ test-install-debian-job:
     - "docker"
   script:
     - apt install -y ./verapdf*.deb
-    # HINT: shell pipe requires subshell
-    - CALL_VERAPDF=$("${INSTALL_PATH_DEB}/verapdf" --version | grep "${VERAPDF_VERSION}")
+    - ${INSTALL_PATH_VERAPDF_DEB}/verapdf --version | grep "${VERAPDF_VERSION}"