diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
index 2b3a965..cbdef00 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ jobs:
   browser-journey:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs: build-release
+    env:
+      STACKCHAIN_RUN_RELEASE_E2E: "1"
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: actions/setup-python@v5
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_mobile_offline_issue_release.py b/tests/e2e/test_mobile_offline_issue_release.py
index baa2db6..ff351a8 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_mobile_offline_issue_release.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_mobile_offline_issue_release.py
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 import pytest
 
+if os.getenv("STACKCHAIN_RUN_RELEASE_E2E") != "1":
+    pytest.skip("release artifact browser journey runs only in its gated CI job", allow_module_level=True)
 pytest.importorskip("playwright.sync_api")
 from playwright.sync_api import Page, expect, sync_playwright
 
diff --git a/tests/test_ci_workflow.py b/tests/test_ci_workflow.py
index 3689d34..d61a73f 100644
--- a/tests/test_ci_workflow.py
+++ b/tests/test_ci_workflow.py
@@ -37,5 +37,6 @@ def test_release_promotion_waits_for_artifact_mobile_offline_journey():
     assert "actions/download-artifact@v3" in browser
     assert "pip install -r requirements-e2e.txt" in browser
     assert "python3 -m playwright install --with-deps chromium" in browser
+    assert 'STACKCHAIN_RUN_RELEASE_E2E: "1"' in browser
     assert "python3 -m pytest tests/e2e/test_mobile_offline_issue_release.py -q" in browser
     assert "needs: [lint, build-release, browser-journey]" in release