diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index e74dd9a7ff8edc6eaf3cf414cec4bdef35e8abfa..c13d059e0b4239924f63847f4873d2c189231ec8 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ python-2:
   stage: test
   image: continuumio/anaconda
   before_script:
+    - apt-get update
+    - apt-get install gcc -y
     - apt install -y libgl1-mesa-glx
     - pip install -r requirements.txt
     - pip install -r optional_requirements.txt
@@ -32,7 +34,8 @@ python-3:
   stage: test
   image: continuumio/anaconda3
   before_script:
-    - sed -i '/lalsuite/d' requirements.txt
+    - apt-get update
+    - apt-get install gcc -y
     - apt install -y libgl1-mesa-glx
     - pip install -r requirements.txt
     - pip install -r optional_requirements.txt
diff --git a/optional_requirements.txt b/optional_requirements.txt
index 3e244261c52caa23509b0a05653db87c968bcbaa..243f6563c97a0fa6c40b01fd0282340fc8bc65f7 100644
--- a/optional_requirements.txt
+++ b/optional_requirements.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 astropy
-lalsuite<=6.48.1.dev20180823
+lalsuite
 gwpy
 theano