diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index a4425a8979da1679e8dd6138aeb7b05503975531..402abd873fbf7381b76452d9e936f137450508cc 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ generate-pipeline:
   stage: generate
   before_script:
     # clone spack and set checkout to correct ref
+    - pip3 install boto3
     - git clone ${SPACK_REPO}
     - pushd spack && git checkout ${SPACK_REF} && git log -n 1 && popd
     - . "./spack/share/spack/setup-env.sh"