diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 5741684242954b0e9b23f4d2c40ca862f17a9570..1db4c0394de48cbd82d5abbe4d7c581abcb9b277 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 # along with this program. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 variables:
+  DEPLOY_REF: dev
   CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE: $CI_REGISTRY/caosdb/caosdb-pylib/testenv:latest
   # When using dind, it's wise to use the overlayfs driver for
   # improved performance.
@@ -63,10 +64,11 @@ trigger_build:
   script:
     - /usr/bin/curl -X POST
       -F token=$DEPLOY_TRIGGER_TOKEN
+      -F "variables[F_BRANCH]=$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME"
       -F "variables[PYLIB]=$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME"
       -F "variables[TriggerdBy]=PYLIB"
       -F "variables[TriggerdByHash]=$CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA"
-      -F ref=dev https://gitlab.indiscale.com/api/v4/projects/14/trigger/pipeline
+      -F ref=$DEPLOY_REF https://gitlab.indiscale.com/api/v4/projects/14/trigger/pipeline
 
 # Build a docker image in which tests for this repository can run
 build-testenv: