diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 021a5161851a75eae5906071459fb3162621a902..d70b33035c9a08176a558b9996e0c1ae2c29730d 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -10,6 +10,14 @@ variables:
   IMAGES_TO_BUILD: "cspp_geo_grb cspp_geo_grb_notify tests/cspp_geo_grb_sender"
 services:
   - docker:19.03.1-dind
+workflow:
+  rules:
+    # don't build tags right now
+    - if: $CI_COMMIT_TAG
+      when: never
+    - if: $CI_MERGE_REQUEST_ID
+      when: never
+    - when: always
 
 before_script:
   - docker info