diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index b7207825e3b1dcf89fd02f7de6fdb20ea712253e..2b15bf049fa21210444b862537cbad592749d140 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ slc6-gcc48:
     - make install
     - make test
     - cd ../..
-    - rsync -arv --delete . clictel@lxplus:/afs/cern.ch/eng/clic/software/DD4hep/x86_64-slc6-gcc48-opt <<< $CLICTEL_PASS
+    - sshpass -p $CLICTEL_PASS rsync -arv -e ssh --delete . clictel@lxplus:/afs/cern.ch/eng/clic/software/DD4hep/x86_64-slc6-gcc48-opt
 
 slc6-gcc49:
   tags:
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ slc6-gcc49:
     - make install
     - make test
     - cd ../..
-    - rsync -arv --delete . clictel@lxplus:/afs/cern.ch/eng/clic/software/DD4hep/x86_64-slc6-gcc49-opt <<< $CLICTEL_PASS
+    - sshpass -p $CLICTEL_PASS rsync -arv -e ssh --delete . clictel@lxplus:/afs/cern.ch/eng/clic/software/DD4hep/x86_64-slc6-gcc49-opt
 
 centos7-gcc49:
   tags:
@@ -65,4 +65,4 @@ centos7-gcc49:
     - make install
     - make test
     - cd ../..
-    - rsync -arv --delete . clictel@lxplus:/afs/cern.ch/eng/clic/software/DD4hep/x86_64-centos7-gcc49-opt <<< $CLICTEL_PASS
+    - sshpass -p $CLICTEL_PASS rsync -arv -e ssh --delete . clictel@lxplus:/afs/cern.ch/eng/clic/software/DD4hep/x86_64-centos7-gcc49-opt