diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr.yml b/.github/workflows/pr.yml
index cdfa42d724..a257deaf5f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr.yml
@@ -126,24 +126,33 @@ jobs:
           if-no-files-found: ignore
 
   testLatestDeps:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     # testLatestDeps is not included in the PR workflow by default
     # because any time a new library version is released to maven central
     # it can fail due to test code incompatibility with the new library version,
     # or due to slight changes in emitted telemetry, which can be confusing for contributors
     # (muzzle can also fail when a new library version is released to maven central
     # but that happens much less often)
-    if: ${{ contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'test latest deps') }}
+    #
+    # the condition is on the steps below instead of here on the job, because skipping the job
+    # causes the job to show up as canceled in the GitHub UI which prevents the build section from
+    # collapsing when everything (else) is green
+    #
+    # and the name is updated when the steps below are skipped which makes what's happening clearer
+    # in the GitHub UI
+    name: testLatestDeps${{ !contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'test latest deps') && ' (skipped)' || ''}}
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v2.3.4
 
       - name: Set up JDK 11 for running Gradle
+        if: ${{ contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'test latest deps') }}
         uses: actions/setup-java@v2
         with:
           distribution: adopt
           java-version: 11
 
       - name: Test
+        if: ${{ contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'test latest deps') }}
         uses: gradle/gradle-build-action@v2
         with:
           arguments: test -PtestLatestDeps=true