diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 374529cee2..6e6185695e 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ spec:
       options:
         - GIMP_CI_MESON_CLANG #trigger the Debian Clang build (rare usefulness)
         - GIMP_CI_MESON_MSVC #trigger the Windows MSVC build (rare usefulness)
+        - GIMP_CI_MESON_APPLECLANG #trigger the Apple Clang build with Homebrew packages (rare usefulness)
         - GIMP_CI_RASTER_ICONS #trigger the Debian Clang build without vector icons (rare usefulness)
         - GIMP_CI_CPPCHECK #trigger cppcheck (static code analysis)
         - none
@@ -653,12 +654,17 @@ gimp-win-eol:
   rules:
     - if: '$CI_MERGE_REQUEST_LABELS =~ /.*Package:Macos Dmg.*/'
       interruptible: true
+      variables:
+        OPT_PREFIX: /opt/macports
     - if: '$GIMP_CI_MACOS != null || "$[[ inputs.distribution_pipeline ]]" =~ /.*GIMP_CI_MACOS.*/'
+      variables:
+        OPT_PREFIX: /opt/macports
+    - if: '($GIMP_CI_MESON_APPLECLANG != null || "$[[ inputs.test_pipeline ]]" =~ /.*GIMP_CI_MESON_APPLECLANG.*/) && $CI_JOB_NAME !~ /.*-part.*/ && $CI_JOB_NAME !~ /.*dist-mac-.*/'
+      variables:
+        OPT_PREFIX: /opt/homebrew
   tags:
     - macos
   variables:
-    #FIXME: Our runner #926 (by MacStadium) do not have cache nor timeout for MacPorts builds
-    OPT_PREFIX: /opt/macports
     PKGCONF_RELOCATABLE_OPTION: '-Dpkgconfig.relocatable=true'
     DMG_OPTION: '-Ddmg=true'
   before_script:
@@ -701,7 +707,10 @@ deps-macos-inhouse-part2:
 
 deps-macos-inhouse:
   extends: .macos-inhouse
-  needs: ["deps-macos-inhouse-part2"]
+  needs:
+    - job: deps-macos-inhouse-part2
+      #to allow running the Homebrew builds which use precompiled binaries
+      optional: true
   stage: dependencies
   script:
     # Do not call sh since it is old bash on macOS, not the default zsh