diff --git a/.github/actions/setup_lfs/action.yml b/.github/actions/setup_lfs/action.yml
index e65045956ca..b3c76be7977 100644
--- a/.github/actions/setup_lfs/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/setup_lfs/action.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 name: "Setup LFS"
 description: "Pull LFS repositories and caches them"
 
+
 inputs:
   refdata-repo:
     description: "tardis refdata repository"
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ runs:
     - name: Save LFS cache if not found
       # uses fake ternary
       # for reference: https://github.com/orgs/community/discussions/26738#discussioncomment-3253176
-      if: ${{ steps.lfs-cache-refdata.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'  && always() || false }}
+      if: ${{ steps.lfs-cache-refdata.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' && !contains(github.ref, 'merge') && always() || false }}
       uses: actions/cache/save@v4
       id: lfs-cache-refdata-save
       with:
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ runs:
     - name: Save LFS cache if not found
       # uses fake ternary
       # for reference: https://github.com/orgs/community/discussions/26738#discussioncomment-3253176
-      if: ${{ steps.lfs-cache-regression-data.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'  && always() || false }}
+      if: ${{ steps.lfs-cache-regression-data.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' && !contains(github.ref, 'merge') && always() || false }}
       uses: actions/cache/save@v4
       id: lfs-cache-regression-data-save
       with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 05fd1701fe8..a630dd81b61 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ jobs:
           verbose: true
 
   tests:
-    name: ${{ matrix.continuum }} continuum ${{ matrix.rpacket_tracking }} rpacket_tracking ${{ matrix.os }} ${{ inputs.pip_tests && 'pip tests enabled' || '' }}
+    name: ${{ matrix.continuum }} continuum ${{ matrix.rpacket_tracking }} rpacket_tracking ${{ matrix.os }} ${{ inputs.pip_git && 'pip tests enabled' || '' }}
     if: github.repository_owner == 'tardis-sn'
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     strategy: