diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 176c71f8f0..ce279a4bce 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ variables:
     paths:
       - artifacts/
 
-# This template
+# This template should be usable on any system that's based on apt.
 .apt-template: &apt-template |
       export LC_ALL=C.UTF-8
       echo Etc/UTC > /etc/timezone
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ variables:
       apt-get update -qq
       apt-get upgrade -qy
 
+# This template sets us up for Debian system in particular.
 .debian-template: &debian-template
   <<: *artifacts-template
   variables:
@@ -92,6 +93,7 @@ variables:
     - if [ "$STEM" = yes ]; then git clone --depth 1 https://git.torproject.org/stem.git ; export STEM_PATH="$(pwd)/stem"; fi
     # TODO: This next line should not be debian-only.
     - if [ "$CHUTNEY" = yes ]; then git clone --depth 1 https://git.torproject.org/chutney.git ;  export CHUTNEY_PATH="$(pwd)/chutney"; fi
+    - if [ "$TRACING" = yes ]; then apt install liblttng-ust-dev; fi
 
 # Minmal check on debian: just make, make check.
 #
@@ -155,3 +157,26 @@ debian-integration:
     STEM: "yes"
   script:
     - ./scripts/ci/ci-driver.sh
+
+#####
+# Tracing build on Debian stable.
+debian-tracing:
+  image: debian:stable
+  <<: *debian-template
+  variables:
+    TRACING: "yes"
+    CHECK: "no"
+  script:
+    - ./scripts/ci/ci-driver.sh
+  # Ensure that we only run tracing when it's implemented.
+  #
+  # Once versions before 0.4.5 are obsolete, we can remove this test.
+  rules:
+    # This first "if" check prevents us from running a duplicate version of
+    # this pipeline whenever we push and create an MR.  I don't understand why
+    # it is necessary, though the following URL purports to explain:
+    #
+    # https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/ci/yaml/#prevent-duplicate-pipelines
+    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push"'
+      exists:
+        - src/lib/trace/trace_sys.c
diff --git a/scripts/ci/ci-driver.sh b/scripts/ci/ci-driver.sh
index 527bba82e5..cd91a91bbf 100755
--- a/scripts/ci/ci-driver.sh
+++ b/scripts/ci/ci-driver.sh
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ COVERAGE="${COVERAGE:-no}"
 RUST="${RUST:-no}"
 DOXYGEN="${DOXYGEN:-no}"
 ASCIIDOC="${ASCIIDOC:-no}"
+TRACING="${TRACING:-no}"
 
 # Options for which tests to run.   All should be yes/no.
 CHECK="${CHECK:-yes}"
@@ -191,6 +192,7 @@ yes_or_no COVERAGE
 yes_or_no RUST
 yes_or_no DOXYGEN
 yes_or_no ASCIIDOC
+yes_or_no TRACING
 
 yes_or_no RUN_STAGE_CONFIGURE
 yes_or_no RUN_STAGE_BUILD
@@ -241,6 +243,9 @@ fi
 if [[ "$ASCIIDOC" != "yes" ]]; then
     configure_options+=("--disable-asciidoc")
 fi
+if [[ "$TRACING" == "yes" ]]; then
+    configure_options+=("--enable-tracing-instrumentation-lttng")
+fi
 
 #############################################################################
 # Tell the user about our versions of different tools and packages.