diff --git a/.gitlab/ci/build.yml b/.gitlab/ci/build.yml
index e8752d09821..360bac003d8 100644
--- a/.gitlab/ci/build.yml
+++ b/.gitlab/ci/build.yml
@@ -102,8 +102,8 @@ generate_build_child_pipeline:
       -p examples
       -p tools/test_apps
       --modified-files $MR_MODIFIED_FILES
-    - shuf test_related_apps.txt -o test_related_apps.txt
-    - shuf non_test_related_apps.txt -o non_test_related_apps.txt
+    - '[ -f test_related_apps.txt ] && shuf test_related_apps.txt -o test_related_apps.txt || echo "test_related_apps.txt not found, skipping."'
+    - '[ -f non_test_related_apps.txt ] && shuf non_test_related_apps.txt -o non_test_related_apps.txt || echo "non_test_related_apps.txt not found, skipping."'
 
 build_child_pipeline:
   stage: build