diff --git a/{% if from_ccsteam %}.gitlab-ci.yml{% endif %}.jinja b/{% if from_ccsteam %}.gitlab-ci.yml{% endif %}.jinja
index 5961c16..fff00e0 100644
--- a/{% if from_ccsteam %}.gitlab-ci.yml{% endif %}.jinja	
+++ b/{% if from_ccsteam %}.gitlab-ci.yml{% endif %}.jinja	
@@ -181,6 +181,10 @@ 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