diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 4607548d8700015e90154040c682d4f39abc335e..35885da0b92d16680969f39ca5600ce504dac7ef 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ test-chrome:
   script:
     - cd ${HOME}
     - apt-get -y install postgresql-client
-    # this is needed for pgboss setup
-    - psql -U kotahitest -d kotahitest -c "create extension pgcrypto;"
+    # this is needed for pgboss initial setup
+    - psql -h postgres -U kotahitest -d kotahitest -c "create extension pgcrypto;"
     # specify host here else it confuses the linked postgres image
     - PGHOST=postgres yarn test:all:chrome