diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.d/base.yml b/.gitlab-ci.d/base.yml
index 999149852e..188a770799 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.d/base.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.d/base.yml
@@ -109,6 +109,16 @@ variables:
     - if: '$QEMU_CI != "2" && $CI_PROJECT_NAMESPACE != $QEMU_CI_UPSTREAM'
       when: manual
 
+    # Upstream pipeline jobs start automatically unless told not to
+    # by setting QEMU_CI=1
+    - if: '$QEMU_CI == "1" && $CI_PROJECT_NAMESPACE == $QEMU_CI_UPSTREAM && $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH =~ /staging-[[:digit:]]+\.[[:digit:]]/'
+      when: manual
+      variables:
+        QEMU_CI_CONTAINER_TAG: $CI_COMMIT_REF_SLUG
+
+    - if: '$QEMU_CI == "1" && $CI_PROJECT_NAMESPACE == $QEMU_CI_UPSTREAM'
+      when: manual
+
     # Jobs can run if any jobs they depend on were successful
     - if: '$QEMU_JOB_SKIPPED && $CI_PROJECT_NAMESPACE == $QEMU_CI_UPSTREAM && $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH =~ /staging-[[:digit:]]+\.[[:digit:]]/'
       when: on_success