diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.d/static_checks.yml b/.gitlab-ci.d/static_checks.yml
index 9c9a771b74..91247a6f67 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.d/static_checks.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.d/static_checks.yml
@@ -4,12 +4,13 @@ check-patch:
   needs:
     job: amd64-centos8-container
   script: .gitlab-ci.d/check-patch.py
-  except:
-    variables:
-      - $CI_PROJECT_NAMESPACE == 'qemu-project' && $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH
   variables:
     GIT_DEPTH: 1000
-  allow_failure: true
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAMESPACE == "qemu-project" && $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH'
+      when: never
+    - when: on_success
+      allow_failure: true
 
 check-dco:
   stage: build
@@ -17,8 +18,9 @@ check-dco:
   needs:
     job: amd64-centos8-container
   script: .gitlab-ci.d/check-dco.py
-  except:
-    variables:
-      - $CI_PROJECT_NAMESPACE == 'qemu-project' && $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH
   variables:
     GIT_DEPTH: 1000
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_PROJECT_NAMESPACE == "qemu-project" && $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH'
+      when: never
+    - when: on_success