diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index b2e927f7133a752851e2b575b18d3dda1fb4044d..91676f25eacfbe939f07124d6b819b4b80d1f9ee 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ default:
 
 qemu:
   extends: .base
+  needs:
+    - format-check
   variables:
     ROOT: e2e
     CONFIG: local
@@ -78,6 +80,9 @@ format-check:
   script:
     # `rules_lint` uses non-hermetic Git unless we give it these arguments
     - bazelisk run //tools/format:format.check -- . --disable_git_attribute_checks
+  rules:
+    - !reference [.base, rules]
+    - if: $CI_MERGE_REQUEST_EVENT_TYPE == "merge_train"
 
 pages:
   stage: deploy