diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 137632b..ca94fa2 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ release:
   variables:
     TWINE_USERNAME: gitlab-ci-token
     TWINE_PASSWORD: $CI_JOB_TOKEN
+    ENVIRONMENT: dev
   script:
     # build and run commands within docker container context
     - docker compose build backend