diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 20d7737e44..c89a02e14d 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -12,6 +12,14 @@ fedora-autotools:
   script:
    - bash -x ./.gitlab-ci/test-docker-autotools.sh
 
+fedora-distcheck:
+  variables:
+    DO_DISTCHECK: "yes"
+  when: manual
+  stage: build
+  script:
+   - bash -x ./.gitlab-ci/test-docker-autotools.sh
+
 fedora-meson:
   stage: build
   script:
diff --git a/.gitlab-ci/test-docker-autotools.sh b/.gitlab-ci/test-docker-autotools.sh
index 2c90159081..d991842cf1 100755
--- a/.gitlab-ci/test-docker-autotools.sh
+++ b/.gitlab-ci/test-docker-autotools.sh
@@ -16,3 +16,8 @@ cd _build
     --enable-xinerama \
     --enable-gtk-doc
 make -j8
+
+if [ -n "${DO_DISTCHECK-}" ]; then
+  make -j8 check SKIP_GDKTARGET="echo Not actually running tests for now"
+  make -j8 distcheck SKIP_GDKTARGET="echo Not actually running tests for now"
+fi