diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 03ba98cf955c62135c6c5b1065642ce55b586344..d7d12ec09ac59071b9d2d2654de1d6ad5548e2c1 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ generate the search index:
   rules:
     - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "master"
     - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "develop"
+    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "16-deploy-to-staticpages-vm"
   script:
     - bash .ci/build_indices.sh
     - mv build processed_build