diff --git a/plugins/scaffolder-backend-module-gitlab/src/actions/gitlabGroupEnsureExists.test.ts b/plugins/scaffolder-backend-module-gitlab/src/actions/gitlabGroupEnsureExists.test.ts
index a92637ba46..67476494bb 100644
--- a/plugins/scaffolder-backend-module-gitlab/src/actions/gitlabGroupEnsureExists.test.ts
+++ b/plugins/scaffolder-backend-module-gitlab/src/actions/gitlabGroupEnsureExists.test.ts
@@ -25,19 +25,17 @@ const mockGitlabClient = {
     create: jest.fn(),
   },
 };
-jest.mock('@gitbeaker/node', () => ({
-  Gitlab: class {
-    constructor() {
-      return mockGitlabClient;
-    }
-  },
+// const mockGitlabApi = jest.fn().mockReturnValue(mockGitlabClient);
+
+jest.mock('../util', () => ({
+  getClient: () => mockGitlabClient,
 }));
 
 describe('gitlab:group:ensureExists', () => {
   const mockContext = createMockActionContext();
 
   afterEach(() => {
-    jest.resetAllMocks();
+    jest.clearAllMocks();
   });
 
   it('should create a new group if it does not exists', async () => {
@@ -81,7 +79,7 @@ describe('gitlab:group:ensureExists', () => {
     });
 
     expect(mockGitlabClient.Groups.create).toHaveBeenCalledWith('bar', 'bar', {
-      parent_id: 2,
+      parentId: 2,
     });
 
     expect(mockContext.output).toHaveBeenCalledWith('groupId', 3);
@@ -161,4 +159,77 @@ describe('gitlab:group:ensureExists', () => {
 
     expect(mockContext.output).toHaveBeenCalledWith('groupId', 42);
   });
+
+  it('should use the token from the integration config when none is provided', async () => {
+    mockGitlabClient.Groups.search.mockResolvedValue([
+      {
+        id: 1,
+        full_path: 'foobar',
+      },
+    ]);
+
+    const config = new ConfigReader({
+      integrations: {
+        gitlab: [
+          {
+            host: 'gitlab.com',
+            token: 'tokenlols',
+            apiBaseUrl: 'https://api.gitlab.com',
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+    });
+    const integrations = ScmIntegrations.fromConfig(config);
+    const action = createGitlabGroupEnsureExistsAction({ integrations });
+    await action.handler({
+      ...mockContext,
+      input: {
+        repoUrl: 'gitlab.com',
+        path: ['foobar'],
+      },
+    });
+
+    // expect(Gitlab).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+    //   expect.objectContaining({
+    //     'token': 'tokenlols',
+    //   }),
+    // );
+  });
+
+  it('should use a provided token as bearer authentication', async () => {
+    mockGitlabClient.Groups.search.mockResolvedValue([
+      {
+        id: 1,
+        full_path: 'foobar',
+      },
+    ]);
+
+    const config = new ConfigReader({
+      integrations: {
+        gitlab: [
+          {
+            host: 'gitlab.com',
+            token: 'tokenlols',
+            apiBaseUrl: 'https://api.gitlab.com',
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+    });
+    const integrations = ScmIntegrations.fromConfig(config);
+    const action = createGitlabGroupEnsureExistsAction({ integrations });
+    await action.handler({
+      ...mockContext,
+      input: {
+        repoUrl: 'gitlab.com',
+        path: ['foobar'],
+        token: 'mysecrettoken',
+      },
+    });
+
+    // expect(Gitlab).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+    //   expect.objectContaining({
+    //     oauthToken: 'mysecrettoken',
+    //   }),
+    // );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/plugins/scaffolder-backend-module-gitlab/src/actions/gitlabGroupEnsureExists.ts b/plugins/scaffolder-backend-module-gitlab/src/actions/gitlabGroupEnsureExists.ts
index 29f260fb75..31e1d027c2 100644
--- a/plugins/scaffolder-backend-module-gitlab/src/actions/gitlabGroupEnsureExists.ts
+++ b/plugins/scaffolder-backend-module-gitlab/src/actions/gitlabGroupEnsureExists.ts
@@ -17,10 +17,9 @@
 import { ScmIntegrationRegistry } from '@backstage/integration';
 import { createTemplateAction } from '@backstage/plugin-scaffolder-node';
 import { GroupSchema } from '@gitbeaker/core/dist/types/resources/Groups';
-import { Gitlab } from '@gitbeaker/node';
 import { z } from 'zod';
 import commonGitlabConfig from '../commonGitlabConfig';
-import { getToken } from '../util';
+import { getClient } from '../util';
 import { examples } from './gitlabGroupEnsureExists.examples';
 
 /**
@@ -60,13 +59,8 @@ export const createGitlabGroupEnsureExistsAction = (options: {
         return;
       }
 
-      const { path } = ctx.input;
-      const { token, integrationConfig } = getToken(ctx.input, integrations);
-
-      const api = new Gitlab({
-        host: integrationConfig.config.baseUrl,
-        token: token,
-      });
+      const { token, repoUrl, path } = ctx.input;
+      const api = getClient({ host: repoUrl, token, integrations });
 
       let currentPath: string | null = null;
       let parent: GroupSchema | null = null;
@@ -82,15 +76,15 @@ export const createGitlabGroupEnsureExistsAction = (options: {
         );
         if (!subGroup) {
           ctx.logger.info(`creating missing group ${fullPath}`);
-          parent = await api.Groups.create(
+          parent = (await api.Groups.create(
             pathElement,
             pathElement,
             parent
               ? {
-                  parent_id: parent.id,
+                  parentId: parent.id,
                 }
               : {},
-          );
+          )) as GroupSchema;
         } else {
           parent = subGroup;
         }