diff --git a/tools/ci/python_packages/gitlab_api.py b/tools/ci/python_packages/gitlab_api.py
index bd5322cf3d..ba2b5e4ef3 100644
--- a/tools/ci/python_packages/gitlab_api.py
+++ b/tools/ci/python_packages/gitlab_api.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def retry(func: TR) -> TR:
                     if e.response_code == 500:
                         # retry on this error
                         pass
-                    elif e.response_code == 404:
+                    elif e.response_code == 404 and os.environ.get('LOCAL_GITLAB_HTTPS_HOST', None):
                         # remove the environment variable "LOCAL_GITLAB_HTTPS_HOST" and retry
                         os.environ.pop('LOCAL_GITLAB_HTTPS_HOST', None)
                     else: