diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 493c9b9..3533038 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ update:
     - git config --global user.email "${CI_EMAIL}"
     - git config --global user.name "${CI_USERNAME}"
     # the part that updates the flake
-    - nix --experimental-features 'nix-command flakes' flake lock --update-input $PACKAGE_NAME
+    - nix flake lock --update-input $PACKAGE_NAME
     - git add flake.lock
     - git commit -m "[skip ci] Updated flake for $PACKAGE_NAME" || echo "No changes, nothing to commit"
     # we have a custom domain
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ update:
   # load nix environment
   - . "$HOME/.nix-profile/etc/profile.d/nix.sh"
   - git pull origin $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME
+  - nix-shell -p colmena
 
 .scripts_deploy: &scripts_deploy
   # setup ssh key
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ build:
   <<: *builder
   stage: test
   script:
-    - nix --experimental-features 'nix-command flakes' run nixpkgs#colmena -- build
+    - colmena build
 
 # dns always has to be deployed first
 deploy_dns:
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ deploy_dns:
   <<: *deployment
   stage: deploy
   script:
-    - nix --experimental-features 'nix-command flakes' run nixpkgs#colmena -- apply --on @active-dns
+    - colmena apply --on @active-dns
 
 deploy_core:
   <<: *builder
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ deploy_core:
   needs:
     - deploy_dns
   script:
-    - nix --experimental-features 'nix-command flakes' run nixpkgs#colmena -- apply --on @active-core
+    - colmena apply --on @active-core
 
 deploy_active:
   <<: *builder
@@ -105,12 +106,12 @@ deploy_active:
   needs:
     - deploy_dns
   script:
-    - nix --experimental-features 'nix-command flakes' run nixpkgs#colmena -- apply --on @active
+    - colmena apply --on @active
 
 deploy_gitlab:
   <<: *builder
   <<: *deployment
   stage: deploy_gitlab
   script:
-    - nix --experimental-features 'nix-command flakes' run nixpkgs#colmena -- apply --on @active-gitlab
+    - colmena apply --on @active-gitlab
   when: manual
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