diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index a3a9e4706a102d92d8a205bf5a00cb65449710dc..454335173431a5995f2ded2d51111bf6f39d1289 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -773,6 +773,12 @@ ivas-pytest-on-merge-request:
   stage: compare
   needs: ["build-codec-linux-cmake", "codec-smoke-test"]
   timeout: "14 minutes"
+  parallel:
+    matrix:
+      # note: keep in sync with list in $TESTS_DIR_CODEC_BE_ON_MR
+      - PYTEST_SCRIPT:
+          - test_param_file.py
+          - test_sba.py
   script:
     - bash "${CI_PROJECT_DIR}"/ivas-codec-ci/snippets/print-common-info.sh
     - commits_behind_count="$(bash "${CI_PROJECT_DIR}"/ivas-codec-ci/snippets/get-commits-behind-count.sh)"
@@ -790,7 +796,7 @@ ivas-pytest-on-merge-request:
 
     ### prepare pytest
     # create references
-    - python3 -m pytest $TESTS_DIR_CODEC_BE_ON_MR -v --update_ref 1
+    - python3 -m pytest "$TESTS_DIR_CODEC_BE_ON_MR"/"$PYTEST_SCRIPT" -v --update_ref 1
 
     ### Run test using branch scripts and input
     - if [ $ref_using_main == 1 ]; then git checkout $source_branch_commit_sha; fi
@@ -798,7 +804,7 @@ ivas-pytest-on-merge-request:
     ### run pytest
     - exit_code=0
     - testcase_timeout=60
-    - python3 -m pytest $TESTS_DIR_CODEC_BE_ON_MR -v --html=report.html --self-contained-html --junit-xml=report-junit.xml --testcase_timeout=$testcase_timeout || exit_code=$?
+    - python3 -m pytest "$TESTS_DIR_CODEC_BE_ON_MR"/"$PYTEST_SCRIPT" -v --html=report.html --self-contained-html --junit-xml=report-junit.xml --testcase_timeout=$testcase_timeout || exit_code=$?
     - zero_errors=$(cat report-junit.xml | grep -c 'errors="0"') || true
 
     - *merge-request-comparison-check