diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 42db67db96b04417e190cf78ad43185156250068..ee4ecac22191a0bd0ad947e394fce81703cacf36 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 variables:
   DOCKERFILE: Dockerfile
   TAG: ${HARBOR_HOST}/${HARBOR_PROJECT}/$SERVICE
-  DOCKER_ARGS: "--build-arg=\"SERVICE=${SERVICE}\""
 stages:
   - build
   - release
@@ -40,5 +39,5 @@ docker-build:
       --cache-ttl=24h
       --destination "${IMAGE_TAG_LOCATION}"
       --build-arg RUNNER_VERSION=${RUNNER_VERSION} --build-arg GITLAB_TOKEN=gitlab-ci-token:${CI_JOB_TOKEN}
-      ${DOCKER_ARGS}
+      --build-arg="SERVICE=${SERVICE}"
       ${KANIKO_PROXY_ARGS}