diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index e5bd25a4ed996483cdbe2be1c2f6c49121ba948e..5b6dc5350dcdae1931363861c711d9238abba12c 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ variables:
   #BUILD_ENV: int-build
   #BUILD_ENV: ebrains/ for DT
   BUILD_ENV: test-build
+  OP: create
 
 deploy-build-environment:
   stage: deploy
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ deploy-build-environment:
   script:
     # create job description file
     - chmod a+x create_job.sh
-    - ./create_job.sh $BUILD_ENV
+    - ./create_job.sh $BUILD_ENV $OP
     - cat simplejob.yml
     # select the project in openshift
     - oc project jupyterhub-int