diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 24b9857529..1c2152e0f9 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ variables:
   CI_REGISTRY_IMAGE: oerdnj/bind9
 
 stages:
+  - precheck
   - build
   - test
 
@@ -102,6 +103,19 @@ stages:
     expire_in: '1 week'
     when: on_failure
 
+precheck:debian:sid:amd64:
+  <<: *debian_sid_amd64_image
+  stage: precheck
+  script:
+    - perl -w util/merge_copyrights
+    - diff -urNap util/copyrights util/newcopyrights
+    - rm util/newcopyrights
+  artifacts:
+    paths:
+    - util/newcopyrights
+    expire_in: '1 week'
+    when: on_failure
+
 #build:debian:jessie:amd64:
 #  <<: *debian_jessie_amd64_image
 #  <<: *build_job