diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 3450dd28eb3e015a03688867dc80d959bb5a0505..cd08e2f4648b089c0738fa3762b757b682e8dfb7 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -100,14 +100,14 @@ xform-cat-ubuntu18:
 
 #per OS
 internal-tests-ubuntu18:
-  << *internal-tests
+  <<: *internal-tests
   tags:
     - ubuntu18
   variables:
     OS: 'ubuntu18'  
 
 internal-tests-ubuntu16:
-  << *internal-tests
+  <<: *internal-tests
   tags:
     - ubuntu16
   variables: