diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 88998f81e043cd51c6d2efaed2155686c543e44a..c55fb83084ab54c17d94eeb6743aa2e9bb5d9911 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -56,8 +56,7 @@ test-jpp-12.1.0:
     stage: test
     script:
         - *virtualenv_definition
-        - mkdir -p pdfs
-        - [ ! -d "pdfs" ] && mkdir pdfs && JMakePDF.sh -W $(pwd)/pdfs -w http://pi1139.physik.uni-erlangen.de/data/latest/ -C
+        - "[ ! -d 'pdfs' ] && mkdir pdfs && JMakePDF.sh -W $(pwd)/pdfs -w http://pi1139.physik.uni-erlangen.de/data/latest/ -C"
         - pip install -U pytest
         - pytest
     cache:
@@ -69,7 +68,7 @@ test-jpp-latest:
     stage: test
     script:
         - *virtualenv_definition
-        - [ ! -d "pdfs" ] && mkdir pdfs && JMakePDF.sh -W $(pwd)/pdfs -w http://pi1139.physik.uni-erlangen.de/data/latest/ -C
+        - "[ ! -d 'pdfs' ] && mkdir pdfs && JMakePDF.sh -W $(pwd)/pdfs -w http://pi1139.physik.uni-erlangen.de/data/latest/ -C"
         - pip install -U pytest
         - pytest
     cache: