diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index ee99df6d9c7d8cdf9165c85b8723010cab4672bf..216a157782eb6a582fc6be6970f1533a9f58730d 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -69,9 +69,9 @@ tests_debug:
   rules:
     - if: $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME =~ /^wip*$/
       when: manual
-    - if: $CI_COMMIT_TAG
+    - if: '$CI_COMMIT_TAG || $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "master"'
       when: never
-    - if: '$CI_MERGE_REQUEST_ID || $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "master"'
+    - if: $CI_MERGE_REQUEST_ID
     - when: manual
   stage: tests
   variables: