diff --git a/.ci/test.sh b/.ci/test.sh
index f0367f68f..a9163a977 100755
--- a/.ci/test.sh
+++ b/.ci/test.sh
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ elif [[ $TASK == "cuda" ]]; then
 elif [[ $TASK == "mpi" ]]; then
     if [[ $METHOD == "pip" ]]; then
         cd $BUILD_DIRECTORY/python-package && python setup.py sdist || exit -1
-        pip install --user $BUILD_DIRECTORY/python-package/dist/fairgbm-$LGB_VER.tar.gz -v --install-option=--mpi || exit -1
+        pip install [--install-option="--mpi"] --user $BUILD_DIRECTORY/python-package/dist/fairgbm-$LGB_VER.tar.gz -v || exit -1
         pytest $BUILD_DIRECTORY/tests/python_package_test || exit -1
         exit 0
     elif [[ $METHOD == "wheel" ]]; then