diff --git a/.github/workflows/server.yml b/.github/workflows/server.yml
index e385e03f3a245..5e38b3547c659 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/server.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/server.yml
@@ -25,17 +25,14 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         sanitizer: [ADDRESS, THREAD, UNDEFINED]
-        build_type: [Debug, Release]
+        build_type: [Debug]
         include:
           - build_type: Release
             sanitizer: ""
-        exclude:
-          - build_type: Release
-            sanitizer: ADDRESS
-          - build_type: Release
+          - build_type: Debug
             sanitizer: THREAD
-          - build_type: Release
-            sanitizer: UNDEFINED
+            disabled_on_pr: true
+      fail-fast: false # While -DLLAMA_SANITIZE_THREAD=ON is broken
 
     container:
       image: ubuntu:latest
@@ -81,13 +78,14 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Tests
         id: server_integration_tests
+        if: ${{ !matrix.disabled_on_pr || !github.event.pull_request }}
         run: |
           cd examples/server/tests
           PORT=8888 ./tests.sh
 
       - name: Slow tests
         id: server_integration_tests_slow
-        if: ${{ github.event.schedule != '' && matrix.build_type == 'Release' || github.event.inputs.slow_tests == 'true' }}
+        if: ${{ (github.event.schedule || github.event.inputs.slow_tests == 'true') && matrix.build_type == 'Release' }}
         run: |
           cd examples/server/tests
           PORT=8888 ./tests.sh --stop --no-skipped --no-capture --tags slow
@@ -124,13 +122,14 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Tests
         id: server_integration_tests
+        if: ${{ !matrix.disabled_on_pr || !github.event.pull_request }}
         run: |
           cd examples/server/tests
           behave.exe --summary --stop --no-capture --exclude 'issues|wrong_usages|passkey' --tags llama.cpp
 
       - name: Slow tests
         id: server_integration_tests_slow
-        if: ${{ github.event.schedule != '' || github.event.inputs.slow_tests == 'true' }}
+        if: ${{ (github.event.schedule || github.event.inputs.slow_tests == 'true') && matrix.build_type == 'Release' }}
         run: |
           cd examples/server/tests
           behave.exe --stop --no-skipped --no-capture --tags slow
diff --git a/examples/server/tests/features/steps/steps.py b/examples/server/tests/features/steps/steps.py
index cfa9f96ec5306..a59a52d21748a 100644
--- a/examples/server/tests/features/steps/steps.py
+++ b/examples/server/tests/features/steps/steps.py
@@ -119,6 +119,10 @@ def step_server_metrics(context):
 def step_start_server(context):
     start_server_background(context)
     attempts = 0
+    max_attempts = 20
+    if 'GITHUB_ACTIONS' in os.environ:
+        max_attempts *= 2
+
     while True:
         with closing(socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)) as sock:
             result = sock.connect_ex((context.server_fqdn, context.server_port))
@@ -126,7 +130,7 @@ def step_start_server(context):
                 print("\x1b[33;46mserver started!\x1b[0m")
                 return
             attempts += 1
-            if attempts > 20:
+            if attempts > max_attempts:
                 assert False, "server not started"
             print(f"waiting for server to start, connect error code = {result}...")
             time.sleep(0.1)
@@ -943,6 +947,9 @@ async def wait_for_health_status(context,
         print(f"Starting checking for health for expected_health_status={expected_health_status}\n")
     interval = 0.5
     counter = 0
+    if 'GITHUB_ACTIONS' in os.environ:
+        timeout *= 2
+
     async with aiohttp.ClientSession() as session:
         while True:
             async with await session.get(f'{base_url}/health', params=params) as health_response: