diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index b8f615d3050d..23a30c3979bd 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -102,8 +102,6 @@ aliases:
 
 workflows:
   test_and_release:
-    when:
-      is: pull_request  # Only include pull_requests
     jobs:
       - create_release_pull_request:
           <<: *rc_branch_only
@@ -112,8 +110,13 @@ workflows:
       - trigger-beta-build:
           requires:
             - prep-deps
-      - check-pr-tag
-      - prep-deps
+      - validate-pr-for-mmi:
+          requires:
+            - check-pr
+      - check-pr
+      - prep-deps:
+          requires:
+            - check-pr
       - get-changed-files-with-git-diff:
           <<: *exclude_develop_master_rc
           requires:
@@ -180,7 +183,7 @@ workflows:
       - prep-build-test-mmi-playwright:
           requires:
             - prep-deps
-            - check-pr-tag
+            - validate-pr-for-mmi
       - prep-build-storybook:
           requires:
             - prep-deps
@@ -190,7 +193,9 @@ workflows:
       - test-lint:
           requires:
             - prep-deps
-      - test-lint-shellcheck
+      - test-lint-shellcheck:
+          requires:
+            - check-pr
       - test-lint-lockfile:
           requires:
             - prep-deps
@@ -415,22 +420,32 @@ jobs:
           name: Create GitHub Pull Request for version
           command: .circleci/scripts/release-create-release-pr.sh
 
-  check-pr-tag:
+  check-pr:
     docker:
       - image: cimg/base:stable
     steps:
       - run:
-          name: Check for MMI Team Tag
+          name: Check if branch has a linked PR
           command: |
             #!/bin/bash
 
-            GH_LABEL=team-mmi
             if [ -z "$CIRCLE_PULL_REQUESTS" ]; then
-              echo "Skipping tag check; this is not a PR."
-              echo "false" > ./RUN_MMI_OPTIONAL
-              exit 0
+              echo "This branch has no associated pull request. Terminating pipeline build"
+              exit 1
+            else
+              echo "This branch has associated pull request."
             fi
 
+  validate-pr-for-mmi:
+    docker:
+      - image: cimg/base:stable
+    steps:
+      - run:
+          name: Check for MMI Team Tag
+          command: |
+            #!/bin/bash
+
+            GH_LABEL=team-mmi
             echo $CIRCLE_PULL_REQUESTS | sed 's/,/\n/g'
 
             # See if any associated PRs have matching label