diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 1f49285f3cadfbfa150bcdd4c4ecddbf67b9e08e..6d00b37f0adee3da393e90d43e23046c7120dfb4 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ workflow:
     # see https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/ci/yaml/workflow.html#switch-between-branch-pipelines-and-merge-request-pipelines
     - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH && $CI_OPEN_MERGE_REQUESTS && $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"
       when: never
-    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'merge_request_event' # Runs for merge requests
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'merge_request_event'
     - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'push' && $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH # Pushes to main
     - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'schedule' && $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH # Scheduled in main
     - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'web' # for testing
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ stages:
 .rules-merge-request:
   extends: .rules-basis
   rules:
-    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'merge_request_event'
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'merge_request_event' && $CI_MERGE_REQUEST_TARGET_BRANCH_NAME == "main" # only have MR pipelines for MRs to main
     - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == 'push'
       when: never