diff --git a/deploy_gitlab_ci.py b/deploy_gitlab_ci.py
index ec5bb6778e4e6ee9b0df3403bbf537ee4cdea150..e46d601c63af8356a1cf3ef2b9e7786fb713ae1b 100755
--- a/deploy_gitlab_ci.py
+++ b/deploy_gitlab_ci.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import common
 
 import argparse
 import sys
-from gitlab import Gitlab
+from gitlab import Gitlab, GitlabCreateError
 from accept_merge_request import accept_merge_request
 from create_merge_request import create_merge_request
 from get_merge_requests import get_merge_requests
@@ -91,6 +91,13 @@ def main():
     else:
         print("Existing integration merge request:\n%s" % mr.web_url)
 
+    # Explicitly trigger a pipeline on the integration branch (automatic pipelines are
+    # disabled for integration merge requests)
+    try:
+        project.pipelines.create({"ref": integration_branch})
+    except GitlabCreateError as e:
+        sys.exit("ERROR: could not create merge request pipeline: %s" % e)
+
     if not args.merge:
         print(
             "Skipping automatic merge in MR context. If you like to extend the "