diff --git a/gitlab-ci.yml b/gitlab-ci.yml
index c87aa239e50a..e3274ca56e20 100644
--- a/gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ deploy-docs:
     - .libcamera-ci.debian:13
     - .libcamera-ci.scripts
   rules:
-    - if: !$DEPLOY_DESTINATION
+    - if: "!$DEPLOY_DESTINATION"
       when: never
     - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH
     - if: $CI_COMMIT_TAG =~ /^v([0-9]+\.)*[0-9]+$/