diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index bc832a67e..5fe838c47 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -175,6 +175,9 @@ lint_api:
   allow_failure: true
   stage: lint
   dependencies: []
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH =~ /(stable|develop)/
+    - changes: [api/**/*]
 
   image: $CI_REGISTRY/funkwhale/ci/python-funkwhale-api:3.11
   before_script: