diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 3ae98cb46f40f4ae24a248e9778afa30d8632726..8992c3c453ddcae3daa1d83a92366e2c3862e5af 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 variables:
-  GIT_STRATEGY: fetch # clone: fresh clone, fetch: update
+  GIT_STRATEGY: $CORSIKA8_GIT_STRATEGY # clone: fresh clone, fetch: update
   GIT_SSL_NO_VERIFY: "1"
   GIT_DEPTH: "1"
   # to re-use clones also in different forks