diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index bb1503a3ed100625b2ec7bcb2e68842ffbe1bb6b..fc5dcf2ae711356d5fcf405efb6abf2b0329dcb1 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ include:
       - ci-templates/default.yml
       - ci-templates/build.yml
     rules:
-      - if: '$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME == "develop"'
+      - if: '$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME == "develop" || $CI_COMMIT_REF_PROTECTED'
 
   - project: osl/code/org.etsi.osl.main
     ref: develop
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ include:
       - ci-templates/default.yml
       - ci-templates/build_unprotected.yml
     rules:
-      - if: '$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME != "main" && $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME != "develop"'
+      - if: '$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME != "main" && $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME != "develop" && !$CI_COMMIT_REF_PROTECTED'
 
 docker_build:
   extends: .docker_build