diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 31517a73264d7ddf456b892f58d2575b2e69aab5..b95d23bcd0cb7d070e25802c39bd9baa6554134a 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ before_script:
   - cd ..
 
 # compile pyswiftsim
-  - python3 setup.py install --with-swift=$LHOME/swiftsim --user
+  - python3 setup.py install --with-swift $LHOME/swiftsim --user
 
 # compile the docs
   - cd docs