diff --git a/.github/workflows/unit-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/unit-tests.yml
index 065e5a5fcd..a4fd1907c7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/unit-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/unit-tests.yml
@@ -13,9 +13,26 @@ on:
   pull_request:
 
 jobs:
+  build-and-unit-tests-debug:
+    name: "Build and unit tests debug"
+    runs-on: self-hosted
+    container:
+      image: ghcr.io/hyperledger-labs/ci-debian-jdk-22:0.1.0
+      volumes:
+        - /nix:/nix
+      env:
+        TESTCONTAINERS_RYUK_DISABLED: true
+        SHOULD_RUN: ${{ !contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip ci') }}
+    steps:
+      - name: Log SHOULD_RUN
+        id: log-should-run
+        run: |
+          env | grep SHOULD_RUN
+
   build-and-unit-tests:
     name: "Build and unit tests"
     runs-on: self-hosted
+    if: ${{ !contains(github.event.head_commit.message, 'skip ci') }}
     env:
       GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
     container: