diff --git a/.gitlab/ci/target-test.yml b/.gitlab/ci/target-test.yml
index 61953cf486..f7727f33ea 100644
--- a/.gitlab/ci/target-test.yml
+++ b/.gitlab/ci/target-test.yml
@@ -56,10 +56,11 @@ test_weekend_mqtt:
   tags:
     - ESP32
     - Example_WIFI
-  variables:
-    ENV_FILE: "$CI_PROJECT_DIR/tools/test_apps/protocols/mqtt/publish_connect_test/env.yml"
-    TEST_CASE_PATH: "$CI_PROJECT_DIR/tools/test_apps/protocols/mqtt/publish_connect_test"
-    CONFIG_FILE_PATH: "$CI_PROJECT_DIR/tools/test_apps/protocols/mqtt/publish_connect_test"
+  script:
+    - export MQTT_PUBLISH_TEST=1
+    - export TEST_PATH=$CI_PROJECT_DIR/tools/test_apps/protocols/mqtt/publish_connect_test
+    - cd $IDF_PATH/tools/ci/python_packages/tiny_test_fw/bin
+    - run_cmd python Runner.py $TEST_PATH -c $TEST_PATH/publish_connect_mqtt_.yml -e $TEST_PATH/env.yml
 
 .example_test_esp32_template:
   extends:
diff --git a/tools/test_apps/protocols/mqtt/publish_connect_test/app_test.py b/tools/test_apps/protocols/mqtt/publish_connect_test/app_test.py
index 2cb19f58f0..fb5374762c 100644
--- a/tools/test_apps/protocols/mqtt/publish_connect_test/app_test.py
+++ b/tools/test_apps/protocols/mqtt/publish_connect_test/app_test.py
@@ -352,7 +352,10 @@ def test_app_protocol_mqtt_publish_connect(env, extra_data):
                 raise Exception('Unexpected negotiated protocol {}'.format(s.get_negotiated_protocol()))
 
     #
-    # start publish tests
+    # start publish tests only if enabled in the environment (for weekend tests only)
+    if not os.getenv('MQTT_PUBLISH_TEST'):
+        return
+
     def start_publish_case(transport, qos, repeat, published, queue):
         print('Starting Publish test: transport:{}, qos:{}, nr_of_msgs:{}, msg_size:{}, enqueue:{}'
               .format(transport, qos, published, repeat * DEFAULT_MSG_SIZE, queue))