diff --git a/openstack_election/cmds/ci_check_all_candidate_files.py b/openstack_election/cmds/ci_check_all_candidate_files.py
index bf7fdffc..4a85bce7 100755
--- a/openstack_election/cmds/ci_check_all_candidate_files.py
+++ b/openstack_election/cmds/ci_check_all_candidate_files.py
@@ -84,7 +84,8 @@ def find_modified_candidate_files():
     filenames = [
         l.strip()
         for l in results.splitlines()
-        if l.startswith(utils.CANDIDATE_PATH + '/')
+        if (l.startswith(utils.CANDIDATE_PATH + '/') and
+            not l.endswith('.placeholder'))
     ]
     return filenames
 
diff --git a/openstack_election/tests/cmds/test_ci_checks.py b/openstack_election/tests/cmds/test_ci_checks.py
index 3003f171..9ff27ef8 100644
--- a/openstack_election/tests/cmds/test_ci_checks.py
+++ b/openstack_election/tests/cmds/test_ci_checks.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class TestFindModifiedCandidateFiles(base.ElectionTestCase):
         check_output = (('configuration.yaml\n'
                          '%(path)s/.placeholder\n'
                          ) % ({'path': utils.CANDIDATE_PATH})).encode('utf-8')
-        expected_filenames = ['%s/.placeholder' % utils.CANDIDATE_PATH]
+        expected_filenames = []
         mock_check_output.return_value = check_output
         filenames = \
             ci_check_all_candidate_files.find_modified_candidate_files()
@@ -48,9 +48,7 @@ class TestFindModifiedCandidateFiles(base.ElectionTestCase):
                          '%(path)s/cadidate\n'
                          '%(path)s/.placeholder\n'
                          ) % ({'path': utils.CANDIDATE_PATH})).encode('utf-8')
-        expected_filenames = ['%s/cadidate' % utils.CANDIDATE_PATH,
-                              '%s/.placeholder' % utils.CANDIDATE_PATH
-                              ]
+        expected_filenames = ['%s/cadidate' % utils.CANDIDATE_PATH]
         mock_check_output.return_value = check_output
         filenames = \
             ci_check_all_candidate_files.find_modified_candidate_files()