diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 538e8720b..aac2d53a3 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ variables:
   G_MESSAGES_DEBUG: all
   MESON_COMMON_OPTIONS: "--buildtype debug --wrap-mode=nodownload --fatal-meson-warnings"
   # expected naming scheme for the release-service job
-  TARBALL_ARTIFACT_PATH: _build/meson-dist/$CI_PROJECT_NAME-$CI_COMMIT_TAG.tar.xz
+  TARBALL_ARTIFACT_PATH: "_build/meson-dist/${CI_PROJECT_NAME}-${CI_COMMIT_TAG}.tar.xz"
 
 # Default CI job setup; contrast with `.only-origin`.
 #