diff --git a/.gitlab-ci/setup-test-env.sh b/.gitlab-ci/setup-test-env.sh
index 66d0028cfc904..1337e0ce7aed9 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci/setup-test-env.sh
+++ b/.gitlab-ci/setup-test-env.sh
@@ -14,9 +14,10 @@ function x_off {
 
 # TODO: implement x_on !
 
+export JOB_START_S=$(date -u +"%s" -d "${CI_JOB_STARTED_AT:?}")
+
 function get_current_minsec {
     DATE_S=$(date -u +"%s")
-    JOB_START_S=$(date -u +"%s" -d "${CI_JOB_STARTED_AT:?}")
     CURR_TIME=$((DATE_S-JOB_START_S))
     echo "$(printf "%02d" $((CURR_TIME/60))):$(printf "%02d" $((CURR_TIME%60)))"
 }