diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index d941aae929d974cb85b69cd61164db119f1bf327..86d90b98d97ed7bcb2f506a795f0207e92d9531d 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -3,12 +3,14 @@ include:
    ref: '3.5.1'
    file: '/templates/gitlab-ci-docker.yml'
  - project: 'to-be-continuous/golang'
-   ref: '4.0.0'
+   ref: '4.0.1'
    file: '/templates/gitlab-ci-golang.yml'
 
 variables:
   GO_BUILD_FLAGS: -tags netgo
-
+  # force application build
+  GO_BUILD_MODE: application
+  
   DOCKER_BUILD_ARGS: "--build-arg CI_PROJECT_URL --build-arg TRACKING_CONFIGURATION"
   DOCKER_HEALTHCHECK_CONTAINER_ARGS: "--service --skip_tracking my-template-service my-template-version"