diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index a7f5567..a6eda6d 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,14 @@
 stages:
   - build
 
+variables:
+  NIX: "nix --extra-experimental-features 'nix-command flakes'"
+
+.scripts_base: &scripts_base
+  - $NIX profile install nixpkgs#bash
+
 .scripts_cache: &scripts_cache
-  - nix --extra-experimental-features 'nix-command flakes'  profile install nixpkgs#attic-client
+  - $NIX profile install nixpkgs#attic-client
   - attic login skynet https://nix-cache.skynet.ie/ $CACHE_KEY
   - attic use skynet-cache
 
@@ -10,6 +16,7 @@ handovers:
   tags:
     - nix
   before_script:
+    - *scripts_base
     - *scripts_cache
   stage: build
 
@@ -23,7 +30,7 @@ handovers:
   script:
     # cache any dependencies
     - attic watch-store skynet-cache &
-    - nix --experimental-features 'nix-command flakes' run .#handovers
+    - $NIX run .#handovers
 
   # what it does afterwards
   artifacts: