diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 83def117b..20f2db3f2 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -205,11 +205,15 @@ test-lin-dev-clang-cran:
 
 # stated dependency on R
 test-lin-ancient-cran:
-  image: registry.gitlab.com/jangorecki/dockerfiles/r-3.3.0
   <<: *test-lin
+  image: registry.gitlab.com/jangorecki/dockerfiles/r-3.3.0
+  variables:
+    _R_CHECK_FORCE_SUGGESTS_: "FALSE" # can be removed if all dependencies are available (knitr, xts, etc.)
   script:
     - *install-deps
-    - R CMD check --no-manual $(ls -1t data.table_*.tar.gz | head -n 1)
+    # knitr requires evaluate, which requires R 3.6.0.
+    # Restore checking vignettes if upgrading our R dependency means knitr can be installed.
+    - R CMD check --no-manual --no-build-vignettes --ignore-vignettes $(ls -1t data.table_*.tar.gz | head -n 1)
 
 .test-win-template: &test-win
   <<: *test