diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.d/buildtest-template.yml b/.gitlab-ci.d/buildtest-template.yml
index 22045add80..278a5ea966 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.d/buildtest-template.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.d/buildtest-template.yml
@@ -26,10 +26,10 @@
       then
         pyvenv/bin/meson configure . -Dbackend_max_links="$LD_JOBS" ;
       fi || exit 1;
-    - make -j"$JOBS"
+    - $MAKE -j"$JOBS"
     - if test -n "$MAKE_CHECK_ARGS";
       then
-        make -j"$JOBS" $MAKE_CHECK_ARGS ;
+        $MAKE -j"$JOBS" $MAKE_CHECK_ARGS ;
       fi
     - ccache --show-stats
 
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
     - cd build
     - find . -type f -exec touch {} +
     # Avoid recompiling by hiding ninja with NINJA=":"
-    - make NINJA=":" $MAKE_CHECK_ARGS
+    - $MAKE NINJA=":" $MAKE_CHECK_ARGS
 
 .native_test_job_template:
   extends: .common_test_job_template