diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index e6f99fe19c..ae9515ff8e 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -270,6 +270,11 @@ stages:
     changes:
       - '**/*.py'
 
+.rule_mr_system_tests: &rule_mr_system_tests
+  - if: '$CI_MERGE_REQUEST_DIFF_BASE_SHA != null'
+    changes:
+      - 'bin/tests/system/**'
+
 .rule_mr_manual: &rule_mr_manual
   - if: '$CI_MERGE_REQUEST_DIFF_BASE_SHA != null'
     when: manual  # only run on MR if requested
@@ -327,6 +332,12 @@ stages:
     - *rule_tag
     - *rule_source_other_than_mr
 
+.extra-system-tests-triggering-rules: &extra_system_tests_triggering_rules
+  rules:
+    - *rule_tag
+    - *rule_source_other_than_mr
+    - *rule_mr_system_tests
+
 .precheck: &precheck_job
   <<: *default_triggering_rules
   <<: *base_image
@@ -988,7 +999,7 @@ gcc:almalinux8:amd64:
 system:gcc:almalinux8:amd64:
   <<: *almalinux_8_amd64_image
   <<: *system_test_job
-  <<: *api_pipelines_schedules_tags_triggers_web_triggering_rules
+  <<: *extra_system_tests_triggering_rules
   needs:
     - job: gcc:almalinux8:amd64
       artifacts: true
@@ -1191,7 +1202,7 @@ gcc:sid:amd64:
 system:gcc:sid:amd64:
   <<: *debian_sid_amd64_image
   <<: *system_test_job
-  <<: *api_pipelines_schedules_tags_triggers_web_triggering_rules
+  <<: *extra_system_tests_triggering_rules
   needs:
     - job: gcc:sid:amd64
       artifacts: true
@@ -1320,7 +1331,7 @@ gcc:jammy:amd64:
 system:gcc:jammy:amd64:
   <<: *ubuntu_jammy_amd64_image
   <<: *system_test_job
-  <<: *api_pipelines_schedules_tags_triggers_web_triggering_rules
+  <<: *extra_system_tests_triggering_rules
   needs:
     - job: gcc:jammy:amd64
       artifacts: true
@@ -1396,7 +1407,7 @@ clang:asan:
 system:clang:asan:
   <<: *base_image
   <<: *system_test_job
-  <<: *api_pipelines_schedules_tags_triggers_web_triggering_rules
+  <<: *extra_system_tests_triggering_rules
   needs:
     - job: clang:asan
       artifacts: true
@@ -1427,7 +1438,7 @@ system:gcc:tsan:
     TSAN_OPTIONS: "${TSAN_OPTIONS_FEDORA}"
   <<: *tsan_fedora_42_amd64_image
   <<: *system_test_tsan_job
-  <<: *api_pipelines_schedules_tags_triggers_web_triggering_rules
+  <<: *extra_system_tests_triggering_rules
   needs:
     - job: gcc:tsan
       artifacts: true
@@ -1513,7 +1524,7 @@ clang:trixie:amd64:
 system:clang:trixie:amd64:
   <<: *debian_trixie_amd64_image
   <<: *system_test_job
-  <<: *api_pipelines_schedules_tags_triggers_web_triggering_rules
+  <<: *extra_system_tests_triggering_rules
   needs:
     - job: clang:trixie:amd64
       artifacts: true
@@ -1535,7 +1546,7 @@ clang:freebsd13:amd64:
 system:clang:freebsd13:amd64:
   <<: *system_test_job
   <<: *freebsd_autoscaler_13_amd64
-  <<: *api_pipelines_schedules_tags_triggers_web_triggering_rules
+  <<: *extra_system_tests_triggering_rules
   needs:
     - job: clang:freebsd13:amd64
       artifacts: true