diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 9f0ab731..c496b3d4 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ debian meson clang debug:
     - ./tools/ci-build.sh
     # Also test that we can be used as a subproject:
     # https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/dbus/dbus/-/merge_requests/388
-    - meson dist -C $ci_builddir --formats xztar
+    - meson dist -C $ci_builddir --formats xztar --no-tests
     - mkdir -p test/use-as-subproject/subprojects/dbus
     - tar --strip-components=1 -C test/use-as-subproject/subprojects/dbus -xf $ci_builddir/meson-dist/*.tar.xz
     - meson setup --wrap-mode=forcefallback test/use-as-subproject/_build test/use-as-subproject