diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 59cc7ab07b75ea28496b3549cbd50902bcd6c609..5cfeee7047dbceaa7a53771a87443aa2131c0d96 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ variables:
   ## note: nightly builds will always use the master/main branch
   JUGGLER_VERSION: "v8.0.1"
   NPDET_VERSION: "v1.3.2"
-  AFTERBURNER_VERSION: "v0.1.2"
 
   ## Spack github version, e.g. v0.18.1 or commit hash
   SPACK_VERSION: "v0.18.1"
@@ -278,7 +277,6 @@ oneapi_jug_xl:default:
                    --build-arg INTERNAL_TAG=${INTERNAL_TAG}
                    --build-arg JUGGLER_VERSION=${JUGGLER_VERSION}
                    --build-arg NPDET_VERSION=${NPDET_VERSION}
-                   --build-arg AFTERBURNER_VERSION=${AFTERBURNER_VERSION}
                    --build-arg JUG_VERSION=${INTERNAL_TAG}-$(git rev-parse HEAD)
                     containers/oneapi
     - !reference [.build, script]
@@ -402,7 +400,6 @@ jug_xl:default:
                    --build-arg INTERNAL_TAG=${INTERNAL_TAG}
                    --build-arg JUGGLER_VERSION=${JUGGLER_VERSION}
                    --build-arg NPDET_VERSION=${NPDET_VERSION}
-                   --build-arg AFTERBURNER_VERSION=${AFTERBURNER_VERSION}
                    --build-arg JUG_VERSION=${INTERNAL_TAG}-$(git rev-parse HEAD)
                    containers/jug
     - !reference [.build, script]