diff --git a/WORKSPACE.yaml b/WORKSPACE.yaml
index 9e5d68650d997e..f0c8660ac89114 100644
--- a/WORKSPACE.yaml
+++ b/WORKSPACE.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # this file makes this a leeway workspace
 defaultTarget: components:all
 defaultArgs:
+  imageRepoBase: "eu.gcr.io/gitpod-core-dev/build"
   coreYarnLockBase: ../..
   npmPublishTrigger: "false"
   publishToNPM: true