diff --git a/.github/scripts/exclude_ci_files.txt b/.github/scripts/exclude_ci_files.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f012ba28c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/scripts/exclude_ci_files.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+.github/actionlint.yaml
+.github/dependabot.yml
+.github/labeler.yml
+.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+.github/release.yml
+.github/actions/certify-openshift-image/action.yml
+.github/config/config-oss-*
+.github/config/config-plus-*
+.github/data/matrix-regression.json
+.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/*
+.github/scripts/create-release-tarballs.sh
+.github/scripts/docker-updater.sh
+.github/scripts/release-notes-update.sh
+.github/scripts/release-version-update.sh
+.github/workflows/build-base-images.yml
+.github/workflows/build-test-image.yml
+.github/workflows/cache-update.yml
+.github/workflows/cherry-pick.yml
+.github/workflows/codeql-analysis.yml
+.github/workflows/create-release-branch.yml
+.github/workflows/dependabot-auto-merge.yml
+.github/workflows/dependabot-hugo.yml
+.github/workflows/dependency-review.yml
+.github/workflows/dockerhub-description.yml
+.github/workflows/fossa.yml
+.github/workflows/image-promotion.yml
+.github/workflows/issues.yaml
+.github/workflows/labeler.yml
+.github/workflows/lint-format.yml
+.github/workflows/mend.yml
+.github/workflows/notifications.yml
+.github/workflows/oss-release.yml
+.github/workflows/patch-image.yml
+.github/workflows/plus-release.yml
+.github/workflows/publish-helm.yml
+.github/workflows/regression.yml
+.github/workflows/release-pr.yml
+.github/workflows/release.yml
+.github/workflows/retag-images.yml
+.github/workflows/scorecards.yml
+.github/workflows/stale.yml
+.github/workflows/update-docker-images.yml
+.github/workflows/update-docker-sha.yml
+.github/workflows/updates-notification.yml
+.github/workflows/version-bump.yml
diff --git a/.github/scripts/variables.sh b/.github/scripts/variables.sh
index 5742c99cf9..f4a1d60850 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/variables.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/variables.sh
@@ -30,7 +30,15 @@ get_chart_md5() {
 }
 
 get_actions_md5() {
-  find .github -type f -exec md5sum {} + | LC_ALL=C sort  | md5sum | awk '{ print $1 }'
+  exclude_list="$(dirname $0)/exclude_ci_files.txt"
+  find_command="find .github -type f -not -path '${exclude_list}'"
+  while IFS= read -r file
+  do
+    find_command+=" -not -path '$file'"
+  done < "$exclude_list"
+
+  find_command+=" -exec md5sum {} +"
+  eval "$find_command" | LC_ALL=C sort  | md5sum | awk '{ print $1 }'
 }
 
 get_build_tag() {