diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index e976a4d18..945d13532 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ variables:
     DEFAULT_CARRIER_CODE: BE
     # force a timezone
     TZ: Europe/Brussels
+    # avoid direct deprecations (using symfony phpunit bridge: https://symfony.com/doc/4.x/components/phpunit_bridge.html#internal-deprecations
+    SYMFONY_DEPRECATIONS_HELPER: max[total]=99999999&max[self]=0&max[direct]=0&verbose=0
 
 stages:
     - Composer install