diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index d158092c8..849aff902 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -210,7 +210,9 @@ jobs:
           dfly-executable: dragonfly
           run-only-on-ubuntu-latest: true
           build-folder-name: build
-          filter: ${{ matrix.build-type == 'Release' && '(not slow) and (not dbg_only)' || '(not slow) and (not opt_only)' }}
+          # Non-release build will not run tests marked as slow or opt_only
+          # "not empty" string is needed for release build because pytest command can not get empty string for filter
+          filter: ${{ matrix.build-type == 'Release' && 'not empty' || '(not slow) and (not opt_only)' }}
 
       - name: Upload regression logs on failure
         if: failure()
diff --git a/.github/workflows/epoll-regression-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/epoll-regression-tests.yml
index b54c07d40..6a1e97364 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/epoll-regression-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/epoll-regression-tests.yml
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ jobs:
           dfly-executable: dragonfly
           gspace-secret: ${{ secrets.GSPACES_BOT_DF_BUILD }}
           build-folder-name: build
-          filter: ${{ matrix.build-type == 'Release' && 'not dbg_only' || 'not opt_only' }}
+          filter: ${{ matrix.build-type == 'Release' && 'not empty' || 'not opt_only' }}
           aws-access-key-id: ${{ secrets.AWS_S3_ACCESS_KEY }}
           aws-secret-access-key: ${{ secrets.AWS_S3_ACCESS_SECRET }}
           s3-bucket: ${{ secrets.S3_REGTEST_BUCKET }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/regression-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/regression-tests.yml
index 3c35b605c..6d2b86a45 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/regression-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/regression-tests.yml
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ jobs:
           dfly-executable: dragonfly
           gspace-secret: ${{ secrets.GSPACES_BOT_DF_BUILD }}
           build-folder-name: build
-          filter: ${{ matrix.build-type == 'Release' && 'not dbg_only' || 'not opt_only' }}
+          filter: ${{ matrix.build-type == 'Release' && 'not empty' || 'not opt_only' }}
           aws-access-key-id: ${{ secrets.AWS_S3_ACCESS_KEY }}
           aws-secret-access-key: ${{ secrets.AWS_S3_ACCESS_SECRET }}
           s3-bucket: ${{ secrets.S3_REGTEST_BUCKET }}
diff --git a/src/server/replica.cc b/src/server/replica.cc
index 7b34deab8..608685d18 100644
--- a/src/server/replica.cc
+++ b/src/server/replica.cc
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ GenericError Replica::Start() {
 
   auto check_connection_error = [this](error_code ec, const char* msg) -> GenericError {
     if (!cntx_.IsRunning()) {
-      return {std::make_error_code(errc::operation_canceled), "replication cancelled"};
+      return {"replication cancelled"};
     }
     if (ec) {
       cntx_.ReportCancelError();