diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 7563ec4eedf9d5fe681a865e9accdb1a1719eb36..2efc980010a0505115489278c535badb7d84843b 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -13,10 +13,13 @@ variables:
 image: registry.git.cccv.de/infra/packages/docker-images/bullseye
 
 autoupdate:
-  stage: .pre
+  stage: build
+  rules:
+  - if: '$RUN_AUTOUPDATE == "1"'
+    when: always
+  - when: manual
   dependencies: []
-  variables:
-    GIT_CHECKOUT: "true"
+  needs: []
   script:
   - git clone "https://${GITLAB_ACCESS_USER}:${GITLAB_ACCESS_TOKEN}@${CI_SERVER_HOST}/${CI_PROJECT_PATH}.git" autoupdate-checkout
   - cd autoupdate-checkout