diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.elife.yml b/.gitlab-ci.elife.yml
index 33367b96f5e064ff3190a65d358cde92dec63916..2a9d41a49fa172b387577e1266da57967b117a9a 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.elife.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.elife.yml
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ lint:
     - cd ${HOME}
     - apt-get -y install postgresql-client
     # this is needed for pgboss initial setup
-    - psql -h postgres -U kotahidev -d kotahidev -c "create extension pgcrypto;"
+    - docker ps
+    - psql -h localhost -U kotahidev -d kotahidev -c "create extension pgcrypto;"
     # use the example env for tests
     - cp .env.example .env
     # specify host here else it confuses the linked postgres image