diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 8a5e066..319bd66 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -55,16 +55,9 @@ sync_repos:
         - sync/repos.csv
 
 .scripts_base: &scripts_base
-  # load nix environment, enter dev shell, load cache and
+  # load nix environment
   - . "$HOME/.nix-profile/etc/profile.d/nix.sh"
-  # load teh dev shell so pipeline uses same binaries as devs
-  - nix --extra-experimental-features 'nix-command flakes' develop
-  # setup the cache
-  - attic login skynet https://nix-cache.skynet.ie/ $CACHE_KEY
-  - attic use skynet-cache
-  - attic watch-store skynet-cache &
-  # push all everything from the current system into cache (if its not already cached)
-  - attic push skynet-cache /run/current-system
+  - nix --extra-experimental-features 'nix-command flakes'  profile install nixpkgs#colmena
 
 .scripts_deploy: &scripts_deploy
   # setup ssh key
@@ -73,12 +66,18 @@ sync_repos:
   - mkdir -p ~/.ssh
   - chmod 700 ~/.ssh
 
+.scripts_cache: &scripts_cache
+  - nix --extra-experimental-features 'nix-command flakes'  profile install nixpkgs#attic-client
+  - attic login skynet https://nix-cache.skynet.ie/ $CACHE_KEY
+  - attic use skynet-cache
+
 # every commit on main will build and deploy
 .build_template: &builder
   tags:
     - nix
   before_script:
     - *scripts_base
+    - *scripts_cache
   rules:
     - if: $UPDATE_FLAKE == "yes"
       when: never
@@ -95,6 +94,7 @@ sync_repos:
   before_script:
     - *scripts_deploy
     - *scripts_base
+    - *scripts_cache
   rules:
     - if: $UPDATE_FLAKE == "yes"
       when: never
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ build:
   <<: *builder
   stage: test
   script:
+    - attic watch-store skynet-cache &
     - colmena build -v --on @active-dns
     - colmena build -v --on @active-core
     - colmena build -v --on @active