diff --git a/ubuntu/configure_fresh_system b/ubuntu/configure_fresh_system
index 8a81be56..2d8281c3 100755
--- a/ubuntu/configure_fresh_system
+++ b/ubuntu/configure_fresh_system
@@ -10,8 +10,12 @@ fi
 set -e
 
 sudo apt-get update
-UPGRADE_COMMAND="sudo $COMMAND_PREFIX dist-upgrade"
-eval ${UPGRADE_COMMAND}
+
+if [ -z ${IN_CI+x} ]; then
+    echo "upgrading whole system, as not in CI"
+    UPGRADE_COMMAND="sudo $COMMAND_PREFIX dist-upgrade"
+    eval ${UPGRADE_COMMAND}
+fi
 
 INSTALL_COMMAND="sudo $COMMAND_PREFIX install meld whois zsh tmux vim atop aria2 curl pv pixz gajim tor torsocks nodejs npm terminator gsmartcontrol python-pip mesa-utils mesa-utils-extra aptitude p7zip-full p7zip-rar thunderbird mercurial kdiff3 gnupg2 python3-setuptools aircrack-ng macchanger"
 eval ${INSTALL_COMMAND}