diff --git a/nixos/tests/gitlab.nix b/nixos/tests/gitlab.nix
index da27cfbbc195c..e04cac7aac77f 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/gitlab.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/gitlab.nix
@@ -249,7 +249,6 @@ in
           with subtest("Setup Git and SSH for Alice"):
               gitlab.succeed("git config --global user.name Alice")
               gitlab.succeed("git config --global user.email alice@nixos.invalid")
-              gitlab.succeed("mkdir -m 700 /root/.ssh")
               gitlab.succeed("cat ${snakeOilPrivateKey} > /root/.ssh/id_ecdsa")
               gitlab.succeed("chmod 600 /root/.ssh/id_ecdsa")
               gitlab.succeed(