diff --git a/functions/concrete/run/env/env.go b/functions/concrete/run/env/env.go
index f237ea7f..a39af81f 100644
--- a/functions/concrete/run/env/env.go
+++ b/functions/concrete/run/env/env.go
@@ -55,6 +55,20 @@ type Env struct {
 	bundledCACerts    string
 }
 
+// ExpandValue expands $VAR / ${VAR} against Env + GitLabEnv overlay.
+// Used for fields the helper subprocess does not expand itself.
+func (e *Env) ExpandValue(s string) string {
+	if s == "" {
+		return s
+	}
+	return os.Expand(s, func(key string) string {
+		if v, ok := e.GitLabEnv[key]; ok {
+			return v
+		}
+		return e.Env[key]
+	})
+}
+
 func (e *Env) IsSuccessful() bool {
 	switch e.status {
 	case "", Running, Success:
diff --git a/functions/concrete/run/stages/artifact_upload.go b/functions/concrete/run/stages/artifact_upload.go
index 319ff845..515785b6 100644
--- a/functions/concrete/run/stages/artifact_upload.go
+++ b/functions/concrete/run/stages/artifact_upload.go
@@ -97,8 +97,10 @@ func (s ArtifactUpload) Run(ctx context.Context, e *env.Env) error {
 		args = append(args, "--name", s.ArtifactName)
 	}
 
-	if s.ExpireIn != "" {
-		args = append(args, "--expire-in", s.ExpireIn)
+	// artifacts-uploader doesn't expand $VAR in --expire-in (unlike --name
+	// and --path), so we have to do it here.
+	if expireIn := e.ExpandValue(s.ExpireIn); expireIn != "" {
+		args = append(args, "--expire-in", expireIn)
 	}
 
 	if s.Format != "" {