diff --git a/templates/gitlab-ci-gcloud.yml b/templates/gitlab-ci-gcloud.yml
index e565aa67d0f7258f5f2613f8c7bb12733770cbe5..05c2efae7b3c5f4b694a06d63525dd81149d984b 100644
--- a/templates/gitlab-ci-gcloud.yml
+++ b/templates/gitlab-ci-gcloud.yml
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ stages:
     fi
   }
 
-  if [[ -z "$TEMPLATE_CHECK_UPDATE_DISABLED" ]]; then check_for_update gcloud "1.3.0"; fi
+  if [[ "$TEMPLATE_CHECK_UPDATE_DISABLED" != "true" ]]; then check_for_update gcloud "1.3.0"; fi
 
   # export tool functions (might be used in after_script)
   export -f log_info log_warn log_error assert_defined awkenvsubst