diff --git a/ci-scripts/ci-runner.bash b/ci-scripts/ci-runner.bash
index 90fb0ca7b8..3e4c9c6f4c 100644
--- a/ci-scripts/ci-runner.bash
+++ b/ci-scripts/ci-runner.bash
@@ -163,8 +163,8 @@ if [ $CI_GENERIC -eq 1 ]; then
     echo "========================================"
     echo "Running unit tests with generic settings"
     echo "========================================"
-    checked_exec ./test_reframe.py
-    checked_exec ! ./bin/reframe.py --system=generic -l 2>&1 | \
+    checked_exec ./test_reframe.py -W=error::reframe.core.exceptions.ReframeDeprecationWarning
+    checked_exec ! ./bin/reframe.py -W=error::reframe.core.exceptions.ReframeDeprecationWarning --system=generic -l 2>&1 | \
         grep -- '--- Logging error ---'
 elif [ $CI_TUTORIAL -eq 1 ]; then
     # Run tutorial checks
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ else
     echo "Running unit tests"
     echo "=================="
 
-    checked_exec ./test_reframe.py --rfm-user-config=config/cscs-ci.py
+    checked_exec ./test_reframe.py -W=error::reframe.core.exceptions.ReframeDeprecationWarning --rfm-user-config=config/cscs-ci.py
 
     if [[ $(hostname) =~ dom ]]; then
         PATH_save=$PATH
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ else
             echo "Running unit tests with ${backend}"
             echo "=================================="
             export PATH=/apps/dom/UES/karakasv/slurm-wrappers/bin:$PATH
-            checked_exec ./test_reframe.py --rfm-user-config=config/cscs-${backend}.py
+            checked_exec ./test_reframe.py -W=error::reframe.core.exceptions.ReframeDeprecationWarning --rfm-user-config=config/cscs-${backend}.py
         done
         export PATH=$PATH_save
     fi
diff --git a/unittests/resources/checks/frontend_checks.py b/unittests/resources/checks/frontend_checks.py
index 6b7a30c013..17331036f3 100644
--- a/unittests/resources/checks/frontend_checks.py
+++ b/unittests/resources/checks/frontend_checks.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ def __init__(self):
 
 
 @rfm.simple_test
-class CustomPerformanceFailureCheck(BaseFrontendCheck):
+class CustomPerformanceFailureCheck(BaseFrontendCheck, special=True):
     '''Simulate a performance check that ignores completely logging'''
 
     def __init__(self):
diff --git a/unittests/resources/checks_unlisted/selfkill.py b/unittests/resources/checks_unlisted/selfkill.py
index 552df6831a..5995ec6f17 100644
--- a/unittests/resources/checks_unlisted/selfkill.py
+++ b/unittests/resources/checks_unlisted/selfkill.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 
 @rfm.simple_test
-class SelfKillCheck(rfm.RunOnlyRegressionTest):
+class SelfKillCheck(rfm.RunOnlyRegressionTest, special=True):
     def __init__(self):
         self.local = True
         self.valid_systems = ['*']