diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index f114187b6abd11214f645bf4dd9646fb1f780b85..b346756c3c6ae162d7ae9e81a619162372d51f64 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -8,10 +8,8 @@ default:
   tags:
     - podman
   cache:
-    key: testdata
     paths:
-      - ./tests/testdata
-    policy: pull-push
+      - testdata/
 
 alma8-build:
   image: harbor.wolke.img.univie.ac.at/flexpart/almalinux8:latest
@@ -53,8 +51,8 @@ setup:
   stage: build
   image: harbor.wolke.img.univie.ac.at/flexpart/rockylinux9:latest
   script:
-    - mkdir ./tests/testdata
-    - wget -r -nH --cut-dirs=2 --no-parent --reject="index.html*" -P ./tests/testdata "https://webdata.wolke.img.univie.ac.at/flexpart/"
+    - mkdir testdata/
+    - wget -r -nH --cut-dirs=2 --no-parent --reject="index.html*" -P testdata/ "https://webdata.wolke.img.univie.ac.at/flexpart/"
 
 options-test:
   # image: harbor.wolke.img.univie.ac.at/flexpart/almalinux8:latest
@@ -65,6 +63,7 @@ options-test:
     - rocky9-build
   script:
     - ulimit -s unlimited
+    - cd tests && ln -s ../testdata/ testdata && cd ..
     - bash ./tests/run_default_options_test.sh
   cache:
     key: testdata