diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 69ab3e9bf7..8e7a44dd68 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -81,10 +81,12 @@ variables:
     -Dgstreamer-sharp:werror=true
 
 workflow:
+  # https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/ci/yaml/index.html#switch-between-branch-pipelines-and-merge-request-pipelines
   rules:
-    - if: $CI_MERGE_REQUEST_IID
-    - if: $CI_COMMIT_TAG
-    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH
+    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"'
+    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH && $CI_OPEN_MERGE_REQUESTS && $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"
+      when: never
+    - if: '$CI_COMMIT_BRANCH'
 
 #
 # Global CI policy