diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index a3b41726..59889d38 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ variables:
   GIT_STRATEGY: clone
   DOCKER_DRIVER: overlay2
   DOCKER_TLS_CERTDIR: "/certs"
+  DOCKER_HOST: tcp://localhost:2375    
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # verify — required check on every MR into dev. No registry, no cluster.