diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index c57d66bb14a67d7c32bd034cdc47cbac507f182c..06870715ca81034d3e514c331d7ca62409a8eee5 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -602,6 +602,8 @@ cleanup:
   stage: finalize
   dependencies:
     - version
+  rules:
+    - when: always
   script:
     ## remove the pipeline specific export from eicweb if needed
     - echo "Cleaning up pipeline specific docker tags if needed"