diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index ca672a7c..970b2e0d 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ build_sshpiper:
     # Push sshpiper binary to salt master via minionfs for distribution to minions
     - echo "Pushing sshpiper binary to salt master via minionfs..."
     - mkdir -p $HOME/sshpiper-dist
-    - cp $CI_PROJECT_DIR/sshpiperd $HOME/sshpiper-dist/
+    - tar -czvf $HOME/sshpiper-dist/sshpiper.tar.gz -C $CI_PROJECT_DIR sshpiperd
     - echo "$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)" > $HOME/sshpiper-dist/commit-hash.txt
     - ls -la $HOME/sshpiper-dist/
     - sudo /opt/salt-call-put-artifacts-onto-salt-master.sh $HOME/sshpiper-dist