diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 800ab336a37b1f7240191179e2ff80a1457e31a4..d110c1d2df36704598ede5de50fa83458b655865 100755
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -138,10 +138,6 @@ msvc_17:
     - win
     - gpu
 
-  variables:
-    BUILD_CONFIGURATION: "Release"
-    BUILD_FOLDER: "build"
-
   # add cmake and MSBuild.exe to the path.
   # This Needs to be adapted when moved to a new build machine.
   before_script:
@@ -152,16 +148,15 @@ msvc_17:
     - MSBuild.exe -version
 
   script:
-    - cd $CI_PROJECT_DIR
-    - md -force $env:BUILD_FOLDER
-    - cd $env:BUILD_FOLDER
+    - md -force build
+    - cd build
     - cmake .. --preset=msvc_all -DVF_ENABLE_PYTHON_BINDINGS=OFF -DCMAKE_CUDA_ARCHITECTURES=61 -DVF_ENABLE_WARNINGS_AS_ERRORS=ON
-    - MSBuild.exe VirtualFluids.sln /property:Configuration=$env:BUILD_CONFIGURATION /verbosity:minimal /maxcpucount:4
+    - MSBuild.exe VirtualFluids.sln /property:Configuration=Release /verbosity:minimal /maxcpucount:4
 
   artifacts:
     expire_in: 1 hrs
     paths:
-      - $CI_PROJECT_DIR/$env:BUILD_FOLDER/
+      - $CI_PROJECT_DIR/build
 
 
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