diff --git a/bin/merge b/bin/merge
index 99a6520b6469434e6e200404cce62ffb6a414e6e..50d8e72f05d5dab77ecbcb3ae5673cc1131c5ba4 100755
--- a/bin/merge
+++ b/bin/merge
@@ -52,7 +52,9 @@ else
 fi
 if [[ -n ${CI_SERVER_URL} ]]; then
   GITLAB_URL=$CI_SERVER_URL
-  GITLAB_PRIVATE_TOKEN=$CI_JOB_TOKEN
+fi
+if [[ -n ${GITLAB_ACCESS_TOKEN} ]]; then
+  GITLAB_PRIVATE_TOKEN=$GITLAB_ACCESS_TOKEN
 fi
 if [[ "x${GITLAB_URL}" == "x" ]]; then
   echo "Missing GITLAB_URL environment variable, should be set to e.g. https://gitlab.lakedrops.com"