diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 1309f75..71591dd 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,22 @@ variables:
   # just to be sure we don't do vendoring
   GOFLAGS: "-mod=mod"
 
+########################################
+# set up custom names for the pipelines of releases and nightly schedules
+########################################
+  PIPELINE_NAME: "$CI_COMMIT_MESSAGE"
+
+workflow:
+  name: "$PIPELINE_NAME"
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "schedule" && $COMPONENT_TESTS_ONLY == "y"
+      variables:
+        PIPELINE_NAME: "Scheduled nightly tests"
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "schedule"
+      variables:
+        PIPELINE_NAME: "Scheduled nightly CSR"
+    - when: always
+
 stages:
   - test
   - qa-test