diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index d7045ecca9c97400039aef2ac18e1a3785f572e2..8a1a9135290c2c4e0b407d2850ccaefb0797fb72 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ testsuite_matlab:
   dependencies:
     - build_binaries
 
-.testsuite_octave_template: &testsuite_octave_definition
+.testsuite_octave_template:
   stage: test
   variables:
     OPENBLAS_NUM_THREADS: 1
@@ -74,13 +74,13 @@ testsuite_matlab:
     - build_binaries
 
 testsuite_octave_auto:
-  <<: *testsuite_octave_definition
+  extends: .testsuite_octave_template
   only:
     - tags
     - schedules
 
 testsuite_octave_manual:
-  <<: *testsuite_octave_definition
+  extends: .testsuite_octave_template
   except:
     - tags
     - schedules