diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 41d743cc69..f4b67e49c0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -51,6 +51,11 @@ jobs:
     uses: ./.github/workflows/examples.yml
 
   markdown-link-check:
+    # release branches are excluded
+    # because links to external urls can break at any time which requires unnecessary release branch
+    # maintenance, especially for patches (and also because the README.md javaagent download link
+    # has to be updated on release branches before the release download has been published)
+    if: ${{ !startsWith(github.ref_name, 'v') }}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr.yml b/.github/workflows/pr.yml
index 521033a641..402045b1ed 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr.yml
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ jobs:
       cache-read-only: true
 
   muzzle:
-    # release branches are excluded
+    # release branch PRs are excluded
     # because any time a new library version is released to maven central it can fail
     # which requires unnecessary release branch maintenance, especially for patches
     if: ${{ !startsWith(github.base_ref, 'v') }}