diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index bb7d754baa751630b25598e182a30f062e9b6ebd..40be386b981d8564ef04539edebb44dc6a389d39 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ include:
       - ci-templates/default.yml
       - ci-templates/build.yml
     rules:
-      - if: '$CI_COMMIT_REF_PROTECTED && $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME != "main" && $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME != "develop"'
+      - if: '$CI_COMMIT_REF_PROTECTED == "true" && $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME != "main" && $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME != "develop"'
 
   - project: osl/code/org.etsi.osl.main
     ref: develop
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ include:
       - ci-templates/default.yml
       - ci-templates/build_unprotected.yml
     rules:
-      - if: '$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME != "main" && $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME != "develop" && !$CI_COMMIT_REF_PROTECTED'
+      - if: '$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME != "main" && $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME != "develop" && $CI_COMMIT_REF_PROTECTED == "false"'
 
 maven_build:
   extends: .maven_build