diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml.jinja b/.gitlab-ci.yml.jinja
index e5696f3..c23ea0e 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml.jinja
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml.jinja
@@ -160,6 +160,10 @@ deploy.botsprod:
   only:
     # Note the bots-prod worker requires branch to be protected
     - master
+  except:
+    variables:
+      - $DEBUG =~ /^(?i)true$/
+      - $DEBUG == "1"
   when: manual
   environment:
     name: production