diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 29ce03f3175f43cd5a8baa599441b66097f55aa7..051a55a09727d098ee7b98e468dc9e55c16d86ed 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ 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
-    - "${INSTALL_PATH_DEB}/verapdf" --version | grep "${VERAPDF_VERSION}"
+    # HINT: shell pipe requires subshell
+    - CALL_VERAPDF=$("${INSTALL_PATH_DEB}/verapdf" --version | grep "${VERAPDF_VERSION}")
 
 package-debian-job:
   stage: package
@@ -116,4 +117,5 @@ test-install-debian-job:
     - "docker"
   script:
     - apt install -y ./verapdf*.deb
-    - "${INSTALL_PATH_DEB}/verapdf" --version | grep "${VERAPDF_VERSION}"
+    # HINT: shell pipe requires subshell
+    - CALL_VERAPDF=$("${INSTALL_PATH_DEB}/verapdf" --version | grep "${VERAPDF_VERSION}")