diff --git a/buildspec.yaml b/buildspec.yaml
index 457814f475f41..ca3b1008b331d 100644
--- a/buildspec.yaml
+++ b/buildspec.yaml
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ phases:
       - codebuild-breakpoint
       - 'if ${BUMP_CANDIDATE:-false}; then env NODE_OPTIONS="--max-old-space-size=8196 ${NODE_OPTIONS:-}" /bin/bash ./scripts/bump-candidate.sh; fi'
       - /bin/bash ./scripts/align-version.sh
-      - /bin/bash ./build.sh --ci
+      - /bin/bash ./build.sh --ci --skip-tests
   post_build:
     commands:
       # Short-circuit: Don't run pack if the above build failed.
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/cfnspec/build-tools/validate-evolution.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/cfnspec/build-tools/validate-evolution.ts
index a7b5f75a99d84..c3d750ef58661 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/cfnspec/build-tools/validate-evolution.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/cfnspec/build-tools/validate-evolution.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export async function validateSpecificationEvolution(specProducer: () => Promise
       '└─▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄',
     ].join('\n') + '\n');
 
-    child_process.execSync(`git checkout ${commit} --force`);
+    child_process.execSync(`git checkout ${commit}`);
     specs.push(await specProducer());
   }