diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index e763c1dceb3313ed18225926f9ecf76a6509cd3c..dcf5d9514cd056c6f3bea0931b351ac3e4415498 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 image: eicweb.phy.anl.gov:4567/eic/juggler/juggler:latest
 
+variables:
+  JUGGLER_N_EVENTS: "200"
+
 default:
-  variables:
-    JUGGLER_N_EVENTS: "200"
   tags:
     - silicon
   artifacts: