diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index fed15a5..f6032be 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -24,7 +24,10 @@ unit-test-job:   # This job runs in the test stage.
 
 deploy-job:      # This job runs in the deploy stage.
   stage: deploy  # It only runs when *both* jobs in the test stage complete successfully.
+	only:
+	  - main #Do not run the deploy pipeline on merge requests
   before_script:
+	  - if [ -z "$DEPLOY_PRIVATE_KEY" ]; then echo "Can't deploy without a private key."; exit 1; fi
     - echo "Installing the dependencies..."
     - apk add rsync openssh-client
     - mkdir -m 700 -p ~/.ssh