diff --git a/.zuul.yaml b/.zuul.yaml
index 74223d44f5..3c490ff180 100644
--- a/.zuul.yaml
+++ b/.zuul.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+- pragma:
+   # NOTE(gtema): this is required for the changes in SDK feature/r1 branch to
+   # be using devstack
+   # TODO(gtema): delete this once r1 branch is merged into master
+    implied-branches:
+      - master
+      - feature/r1
+
 - nodeset:
     name: openstack-single-node
     nodes: