diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 7bcfdd5cd1d8ddc9cf6a1bfce8fe5fbed7dfd637..0df9f7dc483afdfa58fd17e2bd18c5acac940e41 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -113,8 +113,10 @@ full-deploy-testing:
   script:
     - echo "Starting the full testing deployment."
     - pip install python-openstackclient
-    - OLD_ID=`openstack server show $TESTING_NAME -f value -c id`
-    - openstack server set --name $OLD_TEST_NAME $OLD_ID
+    - OLD_ID=`openstack server show $TESTING_NAME -f value -c id` && server_exists=true || echo "No testing server found. It might be a first time deployment"
+    - if [ "$server_exists" = true ] ; then
+      openstack server set --name $OLD_TEST_NAME $OLD_ID;
+      fi
     # TODO get and locally store zip of old certificate-docker-volume
     - INSTANCE_ID=`openstack server create -f value -c id --prefix IMAGE_ --flavor s1 --image 149a65b5-aeb8-499f-aaa6-ec966bd28dd6 --user-data deploy_scripts/cloudinit.yml --security-group ssh --security-group www --security-group https $TESTING_NAME`
     - while [ "`openstack server show $INSTANCE_ID -c addresses -f value`" = "{}" ]; do sleep 5; done # wait until an address is available to attach the floating ip
@@ -144,11 +146,13 @@ cleanup-failed-full-deployment:
     - OLD_PROD_ID=`openstack server show $OLD_PROD_NAME -f value -c id` && rollback_prod=true || echo "No old production server found."
     # if applicable: rollback test server
     - if [ "$rollback_test" = true ] ; then 
-      REMOVE_ID=`openstack server show $TESTING_NAME -f value -c id`;
+      REMOVE_ID=`openstack server show $TESTING_NAME -f value -c id` && new_deployment_exists=true || echo "No new testing server has been created.";
       openstack server set --name $TESTING_NAME $OLD_TEST_ID;
       openstack server add floating ip $OLD_TEST_ID $TESTING_IP;
+      if [ "$new_deployment_exists" = true ] ; then
       openstack server delete $REMOVE_ID && echo "Deleted faulty testing server.";
       fi
+      fi
     # if applicable, rollback prod server
     - if [ "$rollback_prod" = true ] ; then 
       REMOVE_ID=`openstack server show $PRODUCTION_NAME -f value -c id` || echo "No new production server found.";