diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 249c38400..cdc5e4878 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -22,11 +22,12 @@ test-mutter:
   artifacts:
     paths:
       - build
+  variables:
+    XDG_RUNTIME_DIR: "$CI_PROJECT_DIR/runtime-dir"
+    GSETTINGS_SCHEMA_DIR: "$CI_PROJECT_DIR/build/data"
   script:
-    - glib-compile-schemas $PWD/build/data
-    - mkdir -m 700 $PWD/runtime-dir
+    - mkdir -m 700 $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR
+    - glib-compile-schemas $GSETTINGS_SCHEMA_DIR
     - >
-      env XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=$PWD/runtime-dir
-      GSETTINGS_SCHEMA_DIR=$PWD/build/data
       dbus-run-session -- xvfb-run -s '+iglx -noreset'
       meson test -C build --no-rebuild -t 10 --verbose --no-stdsplit --wrap catchsegv