diff --git a/tests/run.yml b/tests/run.yml
index 8204f5b49b..581edfe196 100644
--- a/tests/run.yml
+++ b/tests/run.yml
@@ -38,13 +38,6 @@
         - item.branch == zuul.branch
       with_items: "{{ zuul['items'] }}"
 
-    # NOTE(hrw): we do not publish Debian images (yet)
-    - name: enable building images for Debian
-      set_fact:
-        need_build_image: true
-      when:
-        ansible_distribution == "Debian"
-
     # NOTE(yoctozepto): required to template template_overrides.j2 for Zuul
     - name: Include kolla Zuul vars if building new images
       include_vars:
diff --git a/zuul.d/jobs.yaml b/zuul.d/jobs.yaml
index 4ec4390b04..ba48b1afb8 100644
--- a/zuul.d/jobs.yaml
+++ b/zuul.d/jobs.yaml
@@ -12,8 +12,6 @@
     parent: kolla-ansible-base
     nodeset: kolla-ansible-debian
     voting: false
-    required-projects:
-      - openstack/kolla
     vars:
       base_distro: debian
       install_type: source