diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index be52cf496b90e1cdaa0be4a7ff64e7d9fafc273e..c40eae373f45e7e3a2b5e7a7dc09f568c19ecfbb 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ include:
 variables:
   FASTLANE: "false"
   VERSION: "0.0.0"
+  USE_PYTHON: "true"
 
 set_version:
   stage: .pre
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ set_version:
   - echo "Building $PACKAGE..."
   - mkdir -p build/gnucxx11_opt
   - cd build/gnucxx11_opt
-  - cmake -DBUILD_PACKAGES=$PACKAGE -DWINCC_ROOT_DIR=/opt/WinCC_OA/3.16/ -DBLITZ_ROOT_DIR=/opt/blitz/ -DCASACORE_ROOT_DIR=/opt/casacore/ -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/opt/lofar ../..
+  - cmake -DBUILD_PACKAGES=$PACKAGE -DUSE_PYTHON=$USE_PYTHON -DWINCC_ROOT_DIR=/opt/WinCC_OA/3.16/ -DBLITZ_ROOT_DIR=/opt/blitz/ -DCASACORE_ROOT_DIR=/opt/casacore/ -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/opt/lofar ../..
   - make -j $(nproc)
   - make DESTDIR=${CI_BUILDS_DIR}/${CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA}/install install
   - cd ${CI_BUILDS_DIR}/${CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA}/install/opt/lofar
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ build_SCU:
     - echo "Building SCU & TMSSFrontend..."
     - mkdir -p build/gnucxx11_opt
     - cd build/gnucxx11_opt
-    - cmake -DBUILD_PACKAGES="SCU TMSSFrontend" -DCASACORE_ROOT_DIR=/opt/casacore/ -DCASAREST_ROOT_DIR=/opt/casarest/ -DUSE_LOG4CPLUS=false ../..
+    - cmake -DBUILD_PACKAGES="SCU TMSSFrontend" -DUSE_PYTHON=$USE_PYTHON -DCASACORE_ROOT_DIR=/opt/casacore/ -DCASAREST_ROOT_DIR=/opt/casarest/ -DUSE_LOG4CPLUS=false ../..
     - make -j $(nproc)
     - make install
   interruptible: true
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ build_LTAIngest:
     - echo "Building $PACKAGE..."
     - mkdir -p build/gnucxx11_opt
     - cd build/gnucxx11_opt
-    - cmake -DBUILD_PACKAGES="$PACKAGE" -DUSE_LOG4CPLUS=false ../..
+    - cmake -DBUILD_PACKAGES="$PACKAGE" -DUSE_PYTHON=$USE_PYTHON -DUSE_LOG4CPLUS=false ../..
     - make -j $(nproc)
     - make install
   interruptible: true
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@ build_LTAIngestTransfer:
     - echo "Building $PACKAGE..."
     - mkdir -p build/gnucxx11_opt
     - cd build/gnucxx11_opt
-    - cmake -DBUILD_PACKAGES="$PACKAGE" -DUSE_LOG4CPLUS=false ../..
+    - cmake -DBUILD_PACKAGES="$PACKAGE" -DUSE_PYTHON=$USE_PYTHON -DUSE_LOG4CPLUS=false ../..
     - make -j $(nproc)
     - make install
   interruptible: true