diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 7b7f7b2be0..fb7d72987c 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1957,6 +1957,8 @@ pairwise:
       - $PAIRWISE_TESTING
 
 backports:
+  # finish backport attempt even if another MR was merged while the job was running (or queued)
+  interruptible: false
   <<: *base_image
   stage: postmerge
   rules: