diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 41cd632a1b..c6143f4f4c 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -2057,7 +2057,7 @@ pairwise:
     - >
       echo "previous branch tip: $CI_COMMIT_BEFORE_SHA"
     - set +o pipefail; git log --format='%H' | grep --silent "$CI_COMMIT_BEFORE_SHA" && PREVIOUS_TIP_REACHABLE=1
-    - test "$PREVIOUS_TIP_REACHABLE" != "1" && echo "force-push detected, stop" && exit 1
+    - test "$PREVIOUS_TIP_REACHABLE" != "1" && echo "force-push detected, stop" && exit 0
     # non-fast-forward merges are disabled so we have to have merge commit on top
     - MERGE_REQUEST_ID="$(git log -1 --format='%b' | sed --silent -e "s|^See merge request ${CI_PROJECT_PATH}\!||p")"
     - >