diff --git a/ci-operator/jobs/openshift/cluster-version-operator/openshift-cluster-version-operator-release-4.8-presubmits.yaml b/ci-operator/jobs/openshift/cluster-version-operator/openshift-cluster-version-operator-release-4.8-presubmits.yaml
index 0647c033f0762..a5eb7237dc29c 100644
--- a/ci-operator/jobs/openshift/cluster-version-operator/openshift-cluster-version-operator-release-4.8-presubmits.yaml
+++ b/ci-operator/jobs/openshift/cluster-version-operator/openshift-cluster-version-operator-release-4.8-presubmits.yaml
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ presubmits:
           secretName: result-aggregator
     trigger: (?m)^/test( | .* )e2e-agnostic-upgrade,?($|\s.*)
   - agent: kubernetes
-    always_run: true
+    always_run: false
     branches:
     - release-4.8
     cluster: build01
@@ -211,6 +211,7 @@ presubmits:
       ci-operator.openshift.io/prowgen-controlled: "true"
       pj-rehearse.openshift.io/can-be-rehearsed: "true"
     name: pull-ci-openshift-cluster-version-operator-release-4.8-e2e-metal-assisted
+    optional: true
     rerun_command: /test e2e-metal-assisted
     spec:
       containers:
diff --git a/ci-operator/jobs/openshift/cluster-version-operator/openshift-cluster-version-operator-release-4.9-presubmits.yaml b/ci-operator/jobs/openshift/cluster-version-operator/openshift-cluster-version-operator-release-4.9-presubmits.yaml
index 5fe9054ba3b49..b4737e625701f 100644
--- a/ci-operator/jobs/openshift/cluster-version-operator/openshift-cluster-version-operator-release-4.9-presubmits.yaml
+++ b/ci-operator/jobs/openshift/cluster-version-operator/openshift-cluster-version-operator-release-4.9-presubmits.yaml
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ presubmits:
           secretName: result-aggregator
     trigger: (?m)^/test( | .* )e2e-agnostic-upgrade,?($|\s.*)
   - agent: kubernetes
-    always_run: true
+    always_run: false
     branches:
     - release-4.9
     cluster: build01
@@ -203,6 +203,7 @@ presubmits:
       ci-operator.openshift.io/prowgen-controlled: "true"
       pj-rehearse.openshift.io/can-be-rehearsed: "true"
     name: pull-ci-openshift-cluster-version-operator-release-4.9-e2e-metal-assisted
+    optional: true
     rerun_command: /test e2e-metal-assisted
     spec:
       containers: