diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index e1d2c5c4..3ada99da 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -76,7 +76,15 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: Get changed OTEL collector files
+        id: changed-files
+        uses: tj-actions/changed-files@v39
+        with:
+          files: |
+            docker/otel-collector/**
+            smoke-tests/otel-ccollector/**
       - name: Install required tooling
+        if: steps.changed-files.outputs.any_changed == 'true'
         env:
           DEBIAN_FRONTEND: noninteractive
         run: |
@@ -87,5 +95,6 @@ jobs:
           sudo apt-get update
           sudo apt-get install --yes curl bats clickhouse-client
       - name: Run Smoke Tests
+        if: steps.changed-files.outputs.any_changed == 'true'
         working-directory: ./smoke-tests/otel-collector
         run: bats .