diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 07202f6ffb..871ea45a5f 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -167,19 +167,6 @@ check-system-debian:
     IMAGE: debian-amd64
     MAKE_CHECK_ARGS: check
 
-# No targets are built here, just tools, docs, and unit tests. This
-# also feeds into the eventual documentation deployment steps later
-build-tools-and-docs-debian:
-  <<: *native_build_job_definition
-  variables:
-    IMAGE: debian-amd64
-    MAKE_CHECK_ARGS: check-unit check-softfloat ctags TAGS cscope
-    CONFIGURE_ARGS: --disable-system --disable-user --enable-docs --enable-tools
-  artifacts:
-    expire_in: 2 days
-    paths:
-      - build
-
 acceptance-system-debian:
   <<: *native_test_job_definition
   needs:
@@ -746,6 +733,21 @@ build-libvhost-user:
     - meson
     - ninja
 
+# No targets are built here, just tools, docs, and unit tests. This
+# also feeds into the eventual documentation deployment steps later
+build-tools-and-docs-debian:
+  <<: *native_build_job_definition
+  needs:
+    job: amd64-debian-container
+  variables:
+    IMAGE: debian-amd64
+    MAKE_CHECK_ARGS: check-unit check-softfloat ctags TAGS cscope
+    CONFIGURE_ARGS: --disable-system --disable-user --enable-docs --enable-tools
+  artifacts:
+    expire_in: 2 days
+    paths:
+      - build
+
 # Prepare for GitLab pages deployment. Anything copied into the
 # "public" directory will be deployed to $USER.gitlab.io/$PROJECT
 pages: