diff --git a/ci/prepare.yml b/ci/prepare.yml
index be43bdab0..6cacc9dc4 100644
--- a/ci/prepare.yml
+++ b/ci/prepare.yml
@@ -63,10 +63,11 @@
         name: rhol_crc
         tasks_from: add_crc_creds.yml
 
-    - name: Create project
+    - name: Create the service-telemetry project
+      kubernetes.core.k8s:
+        api_version: v1
+        kind: Namespace
+        name: "service-telemetry"
+        state: present
       retries: 3
       delay: 30
-      ansible.builtin.shell:
-       cmd: |
-          oc new-project service-telemetry
-      changed_when: false