diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index ec2058234297452f8ac002e3527155a078fd2aa1..01dbeeb33001db8c9313ccc234b602227dcd2d56 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ variables:
   VERAPDF_VERSION: "1.24.1"
   DOCKERFILE_DEB: "${CI_PROJECT_DIR}/gitlab-ci/Dockerfile_DEB"
   IMAGE_TARGET_DEB: "${CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE}/debian12_verapdf_build_env"
+  INSTALL_PATH_DEB: "/usr/local/verapdf"
 
 stages:          # List of stages for jobs, and their order of execution
   - build-env
@@ -52,8 +53,6 @@ local-install-debian-job:   # This job runs in the test stage.
     - "docker"
   image:
     name: "${IMAGE_TARGET_DEB}:latest"
-  variables:
-    INSTALL_PATH_DEB: "/usr/local/verapdf"
   script:
     # download zipped verapdf installer
     # HINT: https://software.verapdf.org/rel/1.24/verapdf-greenfield-1.24.1-installer.zip
@@ -71,7 +70,7 @@ local-install-debian-job:   # This job runs in the test stage.
     # run headless verapdf installation
     - "${VERAPDF_UNZIP_DIR}/verapdf-install" "${AUTO_INSTALL_XML_PATH}"
     # test call verapdf
-    - /usr/local/verapdf/verapdf --version | grep "${VERAPDF_VERSION}"
+    - "${INSTALL_PATH_DEB}/verapdf" --version | grep "${VERAPDF_VERSION}"
 
 package-debian-job:
   stage: package
@@ -116,4 +115,4 @@ test-install-debian-job:
     - "docker"
   script:
     - apt install -y ./verapdf*.deb
-    - /usr/local/verapdf/verapdf --version | grep '${VERAPDF_VERSION}'
\ No newline at end of file
+    - "${INSTALL_PATH_DEB}/verapdf" --version | grep "${VERAPDF_VERSION}"