diff --git a/src/tito/release/main.py b/src/tito/release/main.py
index 5fde827..fdbcfb4 100644
--- a/src/tito/release/main.py
+++ b/src/tito/release/main.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ from tito.exception import TitoException
 from tito.config_object import ConfigObject
 
 # List of files to protect when syncing:
-PROTECTED_BUILD_SYS_FILES = ('branch', 'Makefile', 'sources', ".git", ".gitignore", ".osc", "tito-mead-url")
+PROTECTED_BUILD_SYS_FILES = ('branch', 'Makefile', 'sources', ".git", ".gitignore", ".osc", "tito-mead-url", "tests", "gating.yaml")
 
 RSYNC_USERNAME = 'RSYNC_USERNAME'  # environment variable name