diff --git a/.gitlab/ci/build.yml b/.gitlab/ci/build.yml
index 68e0f52eb1..de3f939200 100644
--- a/.gitlab/ci/build.yml
+++ b/.gitlab/ci/build.yml
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ build_child_pipeline:
     PARENT_PIPELINE_ID: $CI_PIPELINE_ID
     BUILD_AND_TEST_ALL_APPS: $BUILD_AND_TEST_ALL_APPS
     REPORT_EXIT_CODE: $REPORT_EXIT_CODE
-    OOCD_DISTRO_URL: $OOCD_DISTRO_URL
+    OOCD_DISTRO_URL: ${OOCD_DISTRO_URL:-}
   # https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/214340
   inherit:
     variables: false
diff --git a/tools/ci/dynamic_pipelines/templates/test_child_pipeline.yml b/tools/ci/dynamic_pipelines/templates/test_child_pipeline.yml
index 00d6e0352a..b3a615652d 100644
--- a/tools/ci/dynamic_pipelines/templates/test_child_pipeline.yml
+++ b/tools/ci/dynamic_pipelines/templates/test_child_pipeline.yml
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ Pytest Target Test Jobs:
   needs:
     - generate_pytest_child_pipeline
   variables:
-    OOCD_DISTRO_URL: $OOCD_DISTRO_URL
+    OOCD_DISTRO_URL: ${OOCD_DISTRO_URL:-}
     PARENT_PIPELINE_ID: $PARENT_PIPELINE_ID
     REPORT_EXIT_CODE: $REPORT_EXIT_CODE
   # https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/214340