diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 6840140d..54372f75 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ stages:
 
 build_trigger_job:
   rules:
-    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE != "merge_request_event"
+    - if: ($CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE != "merge_request_event") && ($CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == 'master')
   stage: build
   variables:
     # the build script assumes it's run from a MR context
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ build_trigger_job:
 
 cts_trigger_job:
   rules:
-    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE != "merge_request_event"
+    - if: ($CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE != "merge_request_event") && ($CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == 'master')
   stage: cts
   trigger:
     project: android_translation_layer/android_translation_layer.gitlab.io