diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 931e79d3505f47fdd3127b52dadcc7404beb85e6..96faf11c20c49300332e8dbd114b9e66aa6d7caf 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 image: artefact.skatelescope.org/ska-tango-images/tango-itango:9.3.3.7
 variables:
   PIP_CACHE_DIR: "$CI_PROJECT_DIR/.cache/pip"
-  PBR_VERSION: 0.1
+  PBR_VERSION: "0.1"
 cache:
   paths:
     - .cache/pip