diff --git a/utils/tests/gitlab-ci.yml b/utils/tests/gitlab-ci.yml
index d6b9bbc66..cde0a987f 100644
--- a/utils/tests/gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/utils/tests/gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -37,10 +37,8 @@ stages:
     - mkdir -p $CCACHE_BASEDIR_VALUE
     - export CCACHE_BASEDIR=${PWD}
     - export CCACHE_DIR=${PWD}/$CCACHE_BASEDIR_VALUE
-    - export OMPI_ALLOW_RUN_AS_ROOT=1
-    - export OMPI_ALLOW_RUN_AS_ROOT_CONFIRM=1
-    - export OMPI_MCA_rmaps_base_oversubscribe=1
-    - CXX=$COMPILER ./ns3 configure -d $MODE -GNinja --enable-examples --enable-tests --enable-asserts
+    - export MPI_CI=1
+    - CXX=$COMPILER ./ns3 configure -d $MODE -GNinja --enable-examples --enable-tests --enable-asserts --enable-mpi
     - ./ns3 build
     - if [ "$MODE" != "debug" ]; then ./test.py -n; fi
   cache: