diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 6e42c854..4006f048 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -126,6 +126,9 @@ phpcs:
   image: composer:latest
   stage: validate
   script:
+    # tell phpcs the PHP version to check against
+    # we are using the min suppported version here
+    - ./vendor/bin/phpcs --config-set php_version 80100
     - ./vendor/bin/phpcs -p --no-colors --basepath="$PWD"
 
 phpstan:
diff --git a/composer.json b/composer.json
index e5ce70ba..7ba7e5e8 100644
--- a/composer.json
+++ b/composer.json
@@ -14,8 +14,15 @@
         }
     ],
     "scripts": {
-        "phpcs": "phpcs -p --cache",
-        "phpcbf": "phpcbf -p",
+        "phpcs:setup": "phpcs --config-set php_version 80100",
+        "phpcs": [
+            "composer phpcs:setup",
+            "phpcs -p --cache"
+        ],
+        "phpcbf": [
+            "composer phpcs:setup",
+            "phpcbf -p"
+        ],
         "phpstan": "phpstan"
     },
     "require": {