diff --git a/.gitlab/ci/host-test.yml b/.gitlab/ci/host-test.yml
index 79bfdc19ca..b5843f2763 100644
--- a/.gitlab/ci/host-test.yml
+++ b/.gitlab/ci/host-test.yml
@@ -300,13 +300,11 @@ test_pytest_qemu:
     - run_cmd idf-ci build run
       --build-system cmake
       --target $IDF_TARGET
-      --only-test-related
       -m qemu
       --modified-files ${MR_MODIFIED_FILES}
     - run_cmd idf-ci gitlab download-known-failure-cases-file ${KNOWN_FAILURE_CASES_FILE_NAME}
     - run_cmd pytest
       --target $IDF_TARGET
-      --log-cli-level DEBUG
       -m qemu
       --embedded-services idf,qemu
       --junitxml=XUNIT_RESULT.xml
diff --git a/conftest.py b/conftest.py
index 5bc43efe1b..aa19094c2a 100644
--- a/conftest.py
+++ b/conftest.py
@@ -300,13 +300,19 @@ def build_dir(
     """
     # download from minio on CI
     case: PytestCase = request.node.stash[IDF_CI_PYTEST_CASE_KEY]
-    if app_downloader:
+    if 'skip_app_downloader' in case.all_markers:
+        logging.debug('skip_app_downloader marker found, skip downloading app')
+        downloader = None
+    else:
+        downloader = app_downloader
+
+    if downloader:
         # somehow hardcoded...
         app_build_path = os.path.join(idf_relpath(app_path), f'build_{target}_{config}')
         if requires_elf_or_map(case):
-            app_downloader.download_app(app_build_path)
+            downloader.download_app(app_build_path)
         else:
-            app_downloader.download_app(app_build_path, 'flash')
+            downloader.download_app(app_build_path, 'flash')
         check_dirs = [f'build_{target}_{config}']
     else:
         check_dirs = []
diff --git a/pytest.ini b/pytest.ini
index cb9d30af80..5d570974f9 100644
--- a/pytest.ini
+++ b/pytest.ini
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ junit_log_passing_tests = False
 markers =
     temp_skip_ci: mark test to be skipped in CI
     temp_skip: mark test to be skipped in CI and locally
+    skip_app_downloader: mark test required apps built locally, not downloaded from CI
     require_elf: mark test to be skipped if no elf file is found
 
 env_markers =
diff --git a/tools/ci/idf_pytest/plugin.py b/tools/ci/idf_pytest/plugin.py
index 81980a5d89..86c1005607 100644
--- a/tools/ci/idf_pytest/plugin.py
+++ b/tools/ci/idf_pytest/plugin.py
@@ -150,6 +150,9 @@ class IdfLocalPlugin:
             if 'esp32c2' in case.targets and 'xtal_26mhz' not in case.all_markers:
                 item.add_marker('xtal_40mhz')
 
+            if 'host_test' in case.all_markers:
+                item.add_marker('skip_app_downloader')  # host_test jobs will build the apps itself
+
     def pytest_custom_test_case_name(self, item: Function) -> str:
         return item.funcargs.get('test_case_name', item.nodeid)  # type: ignore