diff --git a/tests/docker/docker.py b/tests/docker/docker.py
index 4d9bb7c7ed..78dd13171e 100755
--- a/tests/docker/docker.py
+++ b/tests/docker/docker.py
@@ -228,7 +228,9 @@ class Docker(object):
     def __init__(self):
         self._command = _guess_engine_command()
 
-        if "docker" in self._command and "TRAVIS" not in os.environ:
+        if ("docker" in self._command and
+            "TRAVIS" not in os.environ and
+            "GITLAB_CI" not in os.environ):
             os.environ["DOCKER_BUILDKIT"] = "1"
             self._buildkit = True
         else: