diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index ac8390074f4..cbc812a3b88 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ before_script:
   - bundle install --without postgres production --jobs $(nproc)  "${FLAGS[@]}"
   - RAILS_ENV=test bundle exec rake db:drop db:create db:schema:load db:migrate
 
+variables:
+  MYSQL_ALLOW_EMPTY_PASSWORD: "1"
+
 spec:feature:
   script:
     - RAILS_ENV=test bundle exec rake assets:precompile 2>/dev/null