diff --git a/testsuite/citest.py b/testsuite/citest.py
index a41b77c8..211bc16d 100644
--- a/testsuite/citest.py
+++ b/testsuite/citest.py
@@ -928,7 +928,6 @@ class NoCrossTest(CIBaseTest):
             'mc:qemui386-bullseye:isar-image-base',
             'mc:qemuamd64-buster:isar-image-ci',
             'mc:qemuamd64-bullseye:isar-initramfs',
-            'mc:qemumipsel-bullseye:isar-image-base',
             'mc:phyboard-mira-bullseye:isar-image-base',
             'mc:hikey-bullseye:isar-image-base',
             'mc:virtualbox-bullseye:isar-image-base',
@@ -959,6 +958,11 @@ class NoCrossTest(CIBaseTest):
             'mc:x86-pc-bookworm:isar-image-base',
         ]
 
+        if not bool(int(self.params.get('rootless', default=0))):
+            # on bullseye mipsel, the pam + adduser combination does not
+            # work in unprivileged namespaces
+            targets.append('mc:qemumipsel-bullseye:isar-image-base')
+
         self.init()
         self.perform_build_test(targets, cross=False)
 
@@ -1120,6 +1124,8 @@ class NoCrossTest(CIBaseTest):
         """
         :avocado: tags=startvm
         """
+        if bool(int(self.params.get('rootless', default=0))):
+            self.cancel('mipsel bullseye not supported in rootless mode')
         self.init()
         self.vm_start('mipsel', 'bullseye')