diff --git a/lib/config/migrate-validate.spec.ts b/lib/config/migrate-validate.spec.ts
index c0d87d4afa9165..5b93666a6346d4 100644
--- a/lib/config/migrate-validate.spec.ts
+++ b/lib/config/migrate-validate.spec.ts
@@ -44,5 +44,33 @@ describe('config/migrate-validate', () => {
       expect(res.warnings).toBeUndefined();
       expect(res).toMatchSnapshot();
     });
+
+    it('does not remove approval rules for merge requests without automerge enabled', async () => {
+      const input: RenovateConfig = {
+        platformAutomerge: true,
+        gitLabIgnoreApprovals: true,
+        automergeType: 'pr',
+        packageRules: [
+          {
+            matchPackageNames: ['/azure/'],
+            automerge: true,
+          },
+        ],
+      };
+      const res = await migrateAndValidate(config, input);
+      expect(res).toEqual({
+        platformAutomerge: true,
+        gitLabIgnoreApprovals: true,
+        automergeType: 'pr',
+        packageRules: [
+          {
+            matchPackageNames: ['/azure/'],
+            automerge: true,
+          },
+        ],
+        errors: [],
+        warnings: [],
+      });
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/lib/config/presets/gitlab/index.spec.ts b/lib/config/presets/gitlab/index.spec.ts
index bccecb87ab3a32..7f4d77a3b7900b 100644
--- a/lib/config/presets/gitlab/index.spec.ts
+++ b/lib/config/presets/gitlab/index.spec.ts
@@ -124,6 +124,44 @@ describe('config/presets/gitlab/index', () => {
       });
       expect(content).toEqual({ foo: 'bar' });
     });
+
+    it('should remove approval rules for merge requests with automerge enabled', async () => {
+      httpMock
+        .scope(gitlabApiHost)
+        .get(projectPath)
+        .reply(200, {
+          default_branch: 'main',
+        })
+        .get(`${basePath}/files/default.json/raw?ref=main`)
+        .reply(200, { foo: 'bar' }, {});
+
+      const content = await gitlab.getPreset({ repo: 'some/repo' });
+      expect(content).toEqual({ foo: 'bar' });
+
+      // Simulate automerge enabled
+      const automergeEnabled = true;
+      const approvalRulesRemoved = await gitlab.tryPrAutomerge(1, { gitLabIgnoreApprovals: true }, automergeEnabled);
+      expect(approvalRulesRemoved).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('should not remove approval rules for merge requests without automerge enabled', async () => {
+      httpMock
+        .scope(gitlabApiHost)
+        .get(projectPath)
+        .reply(200, {
+          default_branch: 'main',
+        })
+        .get(`${basePath}/files/default.json/raw?ref=main`)
+        .reply(200, { foo: 'bar' }, {});
+
+      const content = await gitlab.getPreset({ repo: 'some/repo' });
+      expect(content).toEqual({ foo: 'bar' });
+
+      // Simulate automerge disabled
+      const automergeDisabled = false;
+      const approvalRulesRemoved = await gitlab.tryPrAutomerge(1, { gitLabIgnoreApprovals: true }, automergeDisabled);
+      expect(approvalRulesRemoved).toBe(false);
+    });
   });
 
   describe('getPresetFromEndpoint()', () => {
diff --git a/lib/modules/platform/gitlab/index.ts b/lib/modules/platform/gitlab/index.ts
index de544f48cce3e0..8f1234154d4854 100644
--- a/lib/modules/platform/gitlab/index.ts
+++ b/lib/modules/platform/gitlab/index.ts
@@ -652,10 +652,6 @@ async function tryPrAutomerge(
   platformPrOptions: PlatformPrOptions | undefined,
 ): Promise<void> {
   try {
-    if (platformPrOptions?.gitLabIgnoreApprovals) {
-      await ignoreApprovals(pr);
-    }
-
     if (platformPrOptions?.usePlatformAutomerge) {
       // https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/merge_requests.html#merge-status
       const desiredDetailedMergeStatus = [
@@ -757,6 +753,7 @@ export async function createPr({
   draftPR,
   labels,
   platformPrOptions,
+  automerge,
 }: CreatePRConfig): Promise<Pr> {
   let title = prTitle;
   if (draftPR) {
@@ -790,7 +787,13 @@ export async function createPr({
     await approvePr(pr.iid);
   }
 
-  await tryPrAutomerge(pr.iid, platformPrOptions);
+  if (platformPrOptions?.gitLabIgnoreApprovals && automerge) {
+    await ignoreApprovals(pr.iid);
+  }
+
+  if (automerge) {
+    await tryPrAutomerge(pr.iid, platformPrOptions);
+  }
 
   return massagePr(pr);
 }