diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 5879f42f5b412b13d6f3f445f1e2ea10f1dede70..d88eb8196ae38869d22792adbd84f810ed6fae87 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ before_script:
   - cd $LHOME
 
 # compile swift
+  - export CC=mpicc
   - git clone https://gitlab.cosma.dur.ac.uk/swift/swiftsim.git --single-branch --branch master
   - cd swiftsim
   - ./autogen.sh