diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index c204660..ef8a4c8 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -416,6 +416,7 @@ centos:7@default-build:
   extends: .centos-build@template
   variables:
     CENTOS_VERSION: 7
+    MAKE_ARGS: ''  # disable distcheck, requires doxygen
   needs: ['centos:7@container-prep']
 
 centos:8@default-build: