diff --git a/contrib/debian/fwupd-tests.postinst b/contrib/debian/fwupd-tests.postinst
index da3b3f619..47f61827f 100644
--- a/contrib/debian/fwupd-tests.postinst
+++ b/contrib/debian/fwupd-tests.postinst
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ set -e
 #only enable on installation not upgrade
 if [ "$1" = configure ] && [ -z "$2" ]; then
 	if [ -f /etc/fwupd.conf ]; then
-		sed "s,^EnableTestSuite=.*,EnableTestSuite=true," -i /etc/fwupd.conf
+		if [ "$CI" = "true" ]; then
+			sed "s,^EnableTestSuite=.*,EnableTestSuite=true," -i /etc/fwupd.conf
+		else
+			echo "To enable test suite, modify /etc/fwupd.conf"
+		fi
 	fi
 fi
diff --git a/contrib/debian/fwupd-tests.postrm b/contrib/debian/fwupd-tests.postrm
index 35d50bc7c..9e82d8fa9 100644
--- a/contrib/debian/fwupd-tests.postrm
+++ b/contrib/debian/fwupd-tests.postrm
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ set -e
 
 if [ "$1" = remove -o "$1" = purge ]; then
 	if [ -f /etc/fwupd.conf ]; then
-		sed "s,^EnableTestSuite=.*,EnableTestSuite=false," -i /etc/fwupd.conf
+		if [ "$CI" = "true" ]; then
+			sed "s,^EnableTestSuite=.*,EnableTestSuite=false," -i /etc/fwupd.conf
+		else
+			echo "To disable test suite, modify /etc/fwupd.conf"
+		fi
 	fi
 fi