diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index ba4ce937ed924e271ae9073324137e19ff8e2fa8..00f32f77d830c369c3ac9432ee45baa748e2d408 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ upgrade:
     - .k3d
   rules:
     # skip job when MR title starts with 'Breaking Change'
-    - if: $CI_MERGE_REQUEST_TITLE =~ /^Breaking Change/'
+    - if: '$CI_MERGE_REQUEST_TITLE =~ /^Breaking Change/'
       when: never
   variables:
     CLUSTER_NAME: "clean-${CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA}"