diff --git a/.buildkite/pipelines/pull_request/renovate.yml b/.buildkite/pipelines/pull_request/renovate.yml
index 3b441cfe5375a..98302a8d7912f 100644
--- a/.buildkite/pipelines/pull_request/renovate.yml
+++ b/.buildkite/pipelines/pull_request/renovate.yml
@@ -1,12 +1,4 @@
 steps:
-  - command: .buildkite/scripts/lifecycle/pre_build.sh
-    label: Pre-Build
-    timeout_in_minutes: 10
-    agents:
-      machineType: n2-standard-2
-
-  - wait
-
   - command: .buildkite/scripts/steps/renovate.sh
     label: 'Renovate validation'
     agents:
diff --git a/.buildkite/scripts/pipelines/pull_request/pipeline.ts b/.buildkite/scripts/pipelines/pull_request/pipeline.ts
index e103b8c407d82..5f4ac3bc8d3bb 100644
--- a/.buildkite/scripts/pipelines/pull_request/pipeline.ts
+++ b/.buildkite/scripts/pipelines/pull_request/pipeline.ts
@@ -39,15 +39,16 @@ const getPipeline = (filename: string, removeSteps = true) => {
       return;
     }
 
+    pipeline.push(getAgentImageConfig({ returnYaml: true }));
+
     const onlyRunQuickChecks = await areChangesSkippable([/^renovate\.json$/], REQUIRED_PATHS);
     if (onlyRunQuickChecks) {
       pipeline.push(getPipeline('.buildkite/pipelines/pull_request/renovate.yml', false));
-      pipeline.push(getPipeline('.buildkite/pipelines/pull_request/post_build.yml'));
-      console.log('Isolated changes to renovate.json. Skipping main PR pipeline.');
+
+      console.log([...new Set(pipeline)].join('\n'));
       return;
     }
 
-    pipeline.push(getAgentImageConfig({ returnYaml: true }));
     pipeline.push(getPipeline('.buildkite/pipelines/pull_request/base.yml', false));
 
     if (await doAnyChangesMatch([/^packages\/kbn-handlebars/])) {