diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 05001dd84271f58ddc192f92eda33af2136478eb..e36cd56458474e7e88dc0fc1b64ddda8dbb307fc 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ variables:
 .patch_version: &patch_version
   before_script:
 
-    - if [ -n ${CI_COMMIT_TAG+set} ]; then
+    - if [[ "x$CI_COMMIT_TAG" != "x" ]]; then
         echo "Release detected - patching version - $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME";
         python -c "import fsl.version as v; v.patchVersion('fsl/version.py', '$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME')";
       fi