diff --git a/templates/release-mr.yml b/templates/release-mr.yml
index 4e091cb4eded8b4212eb8d9ea83228ccb6b2f4d4..5e17b8023b8cefda3dd8db77bb725728c8889d9d 100644
--- a/templates/release-mr.yml
+++ b/templates/release-mr.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ release_mr:
       when: never
     - if: $CI_AWE_SKIP_ALL
       when: never
-    - if: $CI_MERGE_REQUEST_ID
+    - if: $CI_MERGE_REQUEST_ID &&
             $CI_MERGE_REQUEST_TARGET_BRANCH_NAME == $RELEASE_MR_TARGET_BRANCH &&
             $CI_MERGE_REQUEST_SOURCE_BRANCH_NAME == $RELEASE_MR_SOURCE_BRANCH
     - if: $CI_AWE_RUN_RELEASE_MR