diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate.yml b/.github/workflows/validate.yml
index 94b5796fef..ddbc3a21ee 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/validate.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate.yml
@@ -87,6 +87,9 @@ jobs:
       uses: Ana06/get-changed-files@v2.2.0
     - name: Validate Build
       run: |
+        if [ "${{ matrix.compiler }}" == "intel" ]; then
+          export SKIP_CI_SPECS="${{ env.SKIP_CI_SPECS }} components/serial-libs/openblas/SPECS/openblas.spec"
+        fi
         . /etc/profile.d/lmod.sh
         tests/ci/run_build.py ohpc ${{ steps.files.outputs.added_modified }} --compiler-family ${{ matrix.compiler }}
         touch /tmp/empty
@@ -134,6 +137,9 @@ jobs:
     - name: Run CI Tests
       run: |
         export SKIP_CI_SPECS="${{ env.SKIP_CI_SPECS }}${{ env.JOB_SKIP_CI_SPECS }}"
+        if [ "${{ matrix.compiler }}" == "intel" ]; then
+          export SKIP_CI_SPECS="${SKIP_CI_SPECS} components/serial-libs/openblas/SPECS/openblas.spec"
+        fi
         . /etc/profile.d/lmod.sh
         chown ohpc -R tests
         tests/ci/setup_slurm_and_run_tests.sh ohpc ${{ matrix.compiler }} ${{ steps.files.outputs.added_modified }}
diff --git a/tests/ci/run_build.py b/tests/ci/run_build.py
index ae95515813..aca504a819 100755
--- a/tests/ci/run_build.py
+++ b/tests/ci/run_build.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
 skip_ci_specs = []
 skip_ci_specs_env = os.getenv('SKIP_CI_SPECS')
 if skip_ci_specs_env:
-    skip_ci_specs = skip_ci_specs_env.rstrip().split('\n')
+    skip_ci_specs = skip_ci_specs_env.rstrip().split()
 
 for row in reader:
     key = row.pop('NAME')
diff --git a/tests/ci/spec_to_test_mapping.py b/tests/ci/spec_to_test_mapping.py
index c1b351b143..1790b1303c 100755
--- a/tests/ci/spec_to_test_mapping.py
+++ b/tests/ci/spec_to_test_mapping.py
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@
 skip_ci_specs = []
 skip_ci_specs_env = os.getenv('SKIP_CI_SPECS')
 if skip_ci_specs_env:
-    skip_ci_specs = skip_ci_specs_env.rstrip().split('\n')
+    skip_ci_specs = skip_ci_specs_env.rstrip().split()
 for spec in skip_ci_specs:
     if spec in test_map:
         test_map.pop(spec)