diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 4dabb1f29..6d2c3fd6f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ jobs:
 
   fablab-smoketest:
     name: Fablab Smoketest
-    # not applicable to forks
-    if: github.repository_owner == 'openziti'
+    # not applicable to forks. shouldn't run on release build
+    if: github.repository_owner == 'openziti' && github.ref != 'refs/heads/main' 
     runs-on: ubuntu-20.04
     steps:
       - name: Git Checkout