diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 8f72ddf44e0..36af74d7278 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -269,6 +269,7 @@ x86_build:
   image: "$CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE/debian/x86_build:$TAG"
   needs:
     - x86_build
+    - check mr
 
 # Debian 10 based i386 cross-build image
 i386_build:
@@ -283,6 +284,7 @@ i386_build:
   image: "$CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE/debian/i386_build:$TAG"
   needs:
     - i386_build
+    - check mr
 
 # Debian 10 based ppc64el cross-build image
 ppc64el_build:
@@ -297,6 +299,7 @@ ppc64el_build:
   image: "$CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE/debian/ppc64el_build:$TAG"
   needs:
     - ppc64el_build
+    - check mr
 
 # Debian 10 based s390x cross-build image
 s390x_build:
@@ -311,6 +314,7 @@ s390x_build:
   image: "$CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE/debian/s390x_build:$TAG"
   needs:
     - s390x_build
+    - check mr
 
 # Android NDK cross-build image
 android_build:
@@ -325,6 +329,7 @@ android_build:
   image: "$CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE/debian/android_build:$TAG"
   needs:
     - android_build
+    - check mr
 
 # Debian 10 based x86 test image base
 x86_test-base:
@@ -368,6 +373,7 @@ x86_build_old:
   image: "$CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE/debian/x86_build_old:$TAG"
   needs:
     - x86_build_old
+    - check mr
 
 # Debian 10 based ARM build image
 arm_build:
@@ -456,6 +462,7 @@ arm64_test:
   image: "$WINDOWS_IMAGE"
   needs:
     - windows_build_vs2019
+    - check mr
 
 git_archive:
   extends: .fdo.container-build@alpine
@@ -517,12 +524,17 @@ make git archive:
 check mr:
   extends: .sanity-check
   rules:
+    - *ignore_scheduled_pipelines
     - if: *is-pre-merge
       when: on_success
+    - changes: *all_paths
+      when: on_success
     # Other cases default to never
   variables:
     GIT_STRATEGY: none
   script:
+    # Only run checks in pre-merge pipelines for MRs
+    - if test "x$CI_MERGE_REQUEST_SOURCE_BRANCH_NAME" != "x$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME"; then exit 0; fi
     - ci-fairy check-merge-request --require-allow-collaboration --junit-xml=check-merge-request.xml
 
 .check commits:
@@ -777,6 +789,9 @@ meson-android:
   extends:
     - .meson-cross
     - .use-arm_build
+  needs:
+    - arm_build
+    - check mr
   variables:
     VULKAN_DRIVERS: freedreno,broadcom
     GALLIUM_DRIVERS: "etnaviv,freedreno,kmsro,lima,nouveau,panfrost,swrast,tegra,v3d,vc4"