diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 9b890870b..259c45614 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ before_script:
       -e download_run_once=${DOWNLOAD_RUN_ONCE}
       -e etcd_deployment_type=${ETCD_DEPLOYMENT}
       -e kube_network_plugin=${KUBE_NETWORK_PLUGIN}
+      -e kubedns_min_replicas=1
       -e kubelet_deployment_type=${KUBELET_DEPLOYMENT}
       -e local_release_dir=${PWD}/downloads
       -e resolvconf_mode=${RESOLVCONF_MODE}
@@ -153,6 +154,7 @@ before_script:
       -e download_run_once=${DOWNLOAD_RUN_ONCE}
       -e etcd_deployment_type=${ETCD_DEPLOYMENT}
       -e kube_network_plugin=${KUBE_NETWORK_PLUGIN}
+      -e kubedns_min_replicas=1
       -e kubelet_deployment_type=${KUBELET_DEPLOYMENT}
       -e local_release_dir=${PWD}/downloads
       -e resolvconf_mode=${RESOLVCONF_MODE}
@@ -186,6 +188,7 @@ before_script:
       -e resolvconf_mode=${RESOLVCONF_MODE}
       -e local_release_dir=${PWD}/downloads
       -e etcd_deployment_type=${ETCD_DEPLOYMENT}
+      -e kubedns_min_replicas=1
       -e kubelet_deployment_type=${KUBELET_DEPLOYMENT}
       --limit "all:!fake_hosts"
       cluster.yml;
@@ -227,6 +230,7 @@ before_script:
       -e resolvconf_mode=${RESOLVCONF_MODE}
       -e local_release_dir=${PWD}/downloads
       -e etcd_deployment_type=${ETCD_DEPLOYMENT}
+      -e kubedns_min_replicas=1
       -e kubelet_deployment_type=${KUBELET_DEPLOYMENT}
       --limit "all:!fake_hosts"
       cluster.yml;