diff --git a/tools/ci_connector_ops/ci_connector_ops/pipelines/tests/java_connectors.py b/tools/ci_connector_ops/ci_connector_ops/pipelines/tests/java_connectors.py
index 8942c4bbac40..6499dec0baaa 100644
--- a/tools/ci_connector_ops/ci_connector_ops/pipelines/tests/java_connectors.py
+++ b/tools/ci_connector_ops/ci_connector_ops/pipelines/tests/java_connectors.py
@@ -72,8 +72,9 @@ async def run_all_tests(context: ConnectorContext) -> List[StepResult]:
     """
     context.secrets_dir = await secrets.get_connector_secret_dir(context)
 
-    step_results = await run_steps([BuildConnectorImage(context, LOCAL_BUILD_PLATFORM)])
-
+    step_results = await run_steps([BuildConnectorImage(context, LOCAL_BUILD_PLATFORM), UnitTests(context)])
+    if any([result.status is StepStatus.FAILURE for result in step_results]):
+        return step_results
     if context.connector.supports_normalization:
         normalization_image = f"{context.connector.normalization_repository}:dev"
         context.logger.info(f"This connector supports normalization: will build {normalization_image}.")