diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index e72c305c3cfedf3dd03b6b888cac7ee02a7a4a99..31517a73264d7ddf456b892f58d2575b2e69aab5 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ before_script:
   - cd ..
 
 # compile pyswiftsim
-  - python3 setup.py install --user
+  - python3 setup.py install --with-swift=$LHOME/swiftsim --user
 
 # compile the docs
   - cd docs