diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index b1591e222..373a103d2 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ test:json-api:
   stage: test
   script:
     - make install tools
-    - HOME=/tmp coverage run -p --source=lbry scripts/generate_json_api.py
+    - ELASTIC_HOST=elasticsearch HOME=/tmp coverage run -p --source=lbry scripts/generate_json_api.py