diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index a5326995ad611ba99cb6256f9144f560936e942d..f5b594788d10e0c54e1d61da8fdb37485802989e 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ push_to_github:
     - export PYENV_ROOT="$HOME/.pyenv"
     - export PATH="$PYENV_ROOT/bin:$PATH"
     - eval "$(pyenv init -)"
+    # fixme: pre-install python version in docker image to gain speed
+    - pyenv install $PYENV_PYTHON_VERSION
     - pyenv shell $PYENV_PYTHON_VERSION
 
 .changes: &changes