diff --git a/.gitlab/ci.yml b/.gitlab/ci.yml
index abd8f2d..d6c5a21 100644
--- a/.gitlab/ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab/ci.yml
@@ -1,31 +1,37 @@
-image: rust
-variables:
-  CARGO_HOME: $CI_PROJECT_DIR/cargo
-
-cache:
-  paths:
-    - $CARGO_HOME
-
 stages:
     - check
     - release
 
-before_script:
-  - export PATH="$PATH:$CARGO_HOME/bin"
-  - cargo install typst-cli git-cliff sd
-
 # each merge request are required to ensure compiling the `.typ`s file successfully.
 check-merge-request:
   stage: check
+  image: rust
+  variables:
+    CARGO_HOME: $CI_PROJECT_DIR/cargo
+  cache:
+    paths:
+      - $CARGO_HOME
   rules:
     - if: $CI_MERGE_REQUEST_TARGET_BRANCH_NAME == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH
+  before_script:
+    - export PATH="$PATH:$CARGO_HOME/bin"
+    - cargo install typst-cli git-cliff sd
   script:
     - typst compile --root=$CI_PROJECT_DIR --font-path=$CI_PROJECT_DIR/fonts $CI_PROJECT_DIR/template/thesis.typ
 
 check-default-branch:
   stage: check
+  image: rust
+  variables:
+    CARGO_HOME: $CI_PROJECT_DIR/cargo
+  cache:
+    paths:
+      - $CARGO_HOME
   rules:
     - if: $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH
+  before_script:
+    - export PATH="$PATH:$CARGO_HOME/bin"
+    - cargo install typst-cli git-cliff sd
   script:
     - typst compile --root=$CI_PROJECT_DIR --font-path=$CI_PROJECT_DIR/fonts $CI_PROJECT_DIR/template/thesis.typ $CI_PROJECT_DIR/thesis_preview.pdf
   # TODO(#1): the preview pdf should be generated by template repo