diff --git a/script/gitlabci/print_env.sh b/script/gitlabci/print_env.sh
index 58ae9934a12..7972fba148e 100755
--- a/script/gitlabci/print_env.sh
+++ b/script/gitlabci/print_env.sh
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ echo -e "\033[0;33mSteps to setup containter locally"
 
 # display the correct docker run command
 first_step_prefix="1. Run docker image via:"
-if [ "${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER}" == "nvc++" ] || [ "${alpaka_ACC_GPU_CUDA_ENABLE}" == "ON" ];
+if [ "${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER:-}" == "nvc++" ] || [ "${alpaka_ACC_GPU_CUDA_ENABLE}" == "ON" ];
 then
     if [ "${ALPAKA_CI_RUN_TESTS}" == "ON" ];
     then