diff --git a/.gitlab-ci/bare-metal/bm-init.sh b/.gitlab-ci/bare-metal/bm-init.sh
index d55f8032516..75a3ead73ea 100755
--- a/.gitlab-ci/bare-metal/bm-init.sh
+++ b/.gitlab-ci/bare-metal/bm-init.sh
@@ -4,11 +4,12 @@
 
 # First stage: very basic setup to bring up network and /dev etc
 /init-stage1.sh
+INIT_STAGE1_EXIT_CODE=$?
 
 export CURRENT_SECTION=dut_boot
 
 # Second stage: run jobs
-test $? -eq 0 && /init-stage2.sh
+test $INIT_STAGE1_EXIT_CODE -eq 0 && /init-stage2.sh
 
 # Wait until the job would have timed out anyway, so we don't spew a "init
 # exited" panic.