diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index d52966e..3068ee2 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ variables:
   script:
     - meson "$MESON_BUILDDIR" $MESON_ARGS
     - ninja -C "$MESON_BUILDDIR" $NINJA_ARGS
-    - if ! [[ -z '$MESON_TEST_ARGS' ]]; then
+    - if ! [[ -z "$MESON_TEST_ARGS" ]]; then
         meson test -C "$MESON_BUILDDIR" $MESON_TEST_ARGS;
       fi
 
diff --git a/.gitlab-ci/gitlab-ci.tmpl b/.gitlab-ci/gitlab-ci.tmpl
index 2165a67..c45549f 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci/gitlab-ci.tmpl
+++ b/.gitlab-ci/gitlab-ci.tmpl
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ variables:
   script:
     - meson "$MESON_BUILDDIR" $MESON_ARGS
     - ninja -C "$MESON_BUILDDIR" $NINJA_ARGS
-    - if ! [[ -z '$MESON_TEST_ARGS' ]]; then
+    - if ! [[ -z "$MESON_TEST_ARGS" ]]; then
         meson test -C "$MESON_BUILDDIR" $MESON_TEST_ARGS;
       fi