diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 0a57bd9b47618929adfaf06302a4b96490630635..5c19adeffa3611fff4e75c660d0c24a20d819c67 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ variables:
   PKR_VAR_ssh_username: "centos"
   PKR_VAR_networks: '["7ac7d980-20bc-4e53-8528-6809e139fdcc"]'
   PKR_VAR_build_instance_name: "ood-${CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA}"
+  GIT_AUTHOR_NAME: "Gitlab runner"
+  GIT_AUTHOR_EMAIL: "gitlab@runner"
 
 cache:
   paths:
@@ -51,6 +53,8 @@ setup_environment:
         git remote add upstream https://github.com/jprorama/CRI_XCBC.git
       fi
     - >
+      git config user.name "${GIT_AUTHOR_NAME}";
+      git config user.email "${GIT_AUTHOR_EMAIL}";
       git fetch upstream;
       git checkout -b integration;
       git merge upstream/uab-dev;