diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index f3f3f73..9f4f37c 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,14 +1,11 @@
 stages:
   - build
 
-variables:
-  NIX: nix --extra-experimental-features 'nix-command flakes'
-
 .scripts_base: &scripts_base
-  - $NIX profile install nixpkgs#bash
+  - nix --extra-experimental-features 'nix-command flakes' profile install nixpkgs#bash
 
 .scripts_cache: &scripts_cache
-  - $NIX profile install nixpkgs#attic-client
+  - 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
 
@@ -30,7 +27,7 @@ handovers:
   script:
     # cache any dependencies
     - attic watch-store skynet-cache &
-    - $NIX run .#handovers
+    - nix --extra-experimental-features 'nix-command flakes' run .#handovers
 
   # what it does afterwards
   artifacts: