diff --git a/.cirrus.yml b/.cirrus.yml
index cd630d8cf..983c512c8 100644
--- a/.cirrus.yml
+++ b/.cirrus.yml
@@ -149,8 +149,15 @@ iox2_freebsd_setup_template: &IOX2_FREEBSD_SETUP
 #
 
 preflight_check_task:
+  env:
+    GITHUB_EVENT_PAYLOAD: $CIRRUS_EVENT_PAYLOAD
   <<: *IOX2_CONTAINER_UBUNTU_22_04_X64
   set_toolchain_script: rustup default stable
+  shell: |
+    if [[ $(echo "$GITHUB_EVENT_PAYLOAD" | jq -r '.pull_request.draft') == "true" ]]; then
+      echo "Skipping job because the PR is a draft.";
+      exit 0;
+    fi
   # FIXME fingerprint_script:
   #  - cargo audit
   # TODO iox2-#8: add more preflight-checks here