diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 2c3c78b377..e7a9ae3362 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -36,11 +36,12 @@ before_script:
   - export RUSTFLAGS="-D warnings"
   - rm -rf target || echo "it seems that sometimes OLD data is left over"
 
+# 8866215 is the user that is used to sync data to the collaboration repos
 workflow:
   rules:
     - if: $CI_MERGE_REQUEST_IID
     - if: $CI_COMMIT_TAG
-    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH
+    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH && $GITLAB_USER_ID != "8866215"
 
 include:
   - local: .gitlab/CI/recompile.yml