diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci_pr.yml b/.github/workflows/ci_pr.yml
index 2315f4c8f..a33947a3c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci_pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci_pr.yml
@@ -165,9 +165,9 @@ jobs:
           ./ci/pytest.sh
         else
           if [[ "${{ matrix.use_virtual_environment}}" == "true"  ]]; then
-            NOSEOPTS="${{ matrix.additional-nose-opts }}"
+            export NOSEOPTS="${{ matrix.additional-nose-opts }}"
           else
-            NOSEOPTS="--with-timer ${{ matrix.additional-nose-opts }}"
+            export NOSEOPTS="--with-timer ${{ matrix.additional-nose-opts }}"
           fi
           ./ci/nosetests.sh
         fi