diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index be101a566849c87c2db1273a85630c7a3afdf9b4..ed6e3c0c21ce7193025be25a03e74daaacd9f3ab 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ cache:
     - venv/
 
 prepare_code:
+  when: never
   image: lb584/ews_coordinator:latest
   script:
     - python3 -V  # Print out python version for debugging
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ half_fat_epi_tests:
 
 manual_job:
   when: manual
+  needs: ["prepare_code"]
 
   tags:
     - production