diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 816612762741d11d9b42a5f072ee8caa2a6218c6..5cb15af92704d8ff294f00fbdb6b9ba96edfa9f5 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 
 build_and_test:
     image: registry.gitlab.com/rboman_docker/gmsh_python
+    variables:
+        # do not pull LFS files
+        GIT_LFS_SKIP_SMUDGE: 1
     script:
         - cd cxxfem
         - mkdir build