diff --git a/templates/gitlab-ci-docker.yml b/templates/gitlab-ci-docker.yml
index 18e6faa292cc19523e7f74aa380d0a20b920b0a5..aa5ec3f1c7bd286595b478cfe792c2f23e904e7c 100644
--- a/templates/gitlab-ci-docker.yml
+++ b/templates/gitlab-ci-docker.yml
@@ -445,6 +445,29 @@ stages:
     fi
   }
 
+  function maybe_install_python3() {
+    if ! command -v python3 > /dev/null
+    then
+      if command -v apt-get > /dev/null
+      then
+        # Debian
+        apt-get update
+        apt-get install --no-install-recommends --yes --quiet python3
+      elif command -v apk > /dev/null
+      then
+        # Alpine
+        apk add --no-cache python3
+      elif command -v dnf > /dev/null
+      then 
+        # Fedora
+        dnf install -y -q python3
+      else
+        log_error "... didn't find any supported package manager to install python3"
+        exit 1
+      fi
+    fi
+  }
+
   function github_get_latest_version() {
     if command -v curl &> /dev/null
     then
@@ -837,6 +860,7 @@ stages:
   function init_workspace() {
     install_custom_ca_certs
     maybe_install_awk
+    maybe_install_python3
     unscope_variables
     eval_all_secrets
     configure_registries_auth