diff --git a/tools/check-gitlab-ci.sh b/tools/check-gitlab-ci.sh
index da5fcc597b..30e64a99fa 100755
--- a/tools/check-gitlab-ci.sh
+++ b/tools/check-gitlab-ci.sh
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 set -e
 
+if [ "$NMTST_SKIP_CHECK_GITLAB_CI" = 1 ]; then
+    exit 0
+fi
+
 if [ $# -eq 0 ] ; then
     BASEDIR="$(dirname "$(readlink -f "$0")")/.."
 elif [ $# -eq 1 ] ; then