diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 0237fbb81fcff6d74d032e85f56716d614d5c6e8..2536892b9f8e7eddb480a04cc3d3c653cc93ffe8 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 stages:
   - get chart
+  - build prereqs
   - deploy rabbit
   - deploy storage
   - deploy GRB
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ build ci:
       when: always
 
 build sidecar rabbit init:
-  stage: .pre
+  stage: build prereqs
   extends: .build_image
   variables:
     IMAGE_NAME: cspp-geo-rabbit-init
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ build sidecar rabbit init:
         - sidecars/cspp-geo-rabbit-init/Dockerfile
         - sidecars/cspp-geo-rabbit-init/declare_exchange.py
       when: always
-    - if: $BUILD_SIDECARS
+    - if: $BUILD_PREREQS
       when: always