diff --git a/ci.hocon b/ci.hocon
index d96fd01f504f0bc43ac62d7bcb1748c314e8cb9a..a45929a1f8847d545993d280e420514c9ee5ba60 100644
--- a/ci.hocon
+++ b/ci.hocon
@@ -86,6 +86,12 @@ gateTestCommon : ${common} {
 gateTestLinux : ${gateTestCommon} {
 }
 
+gateTestNoSpecialsLinux : ${common} {
+  run : [
+    ${gateCmd} ["Versions,JDKReleaseInfo,BuildJavaWithJavac,UnitTests: no specials"]
+  ]
+}
+
 darwinEnvironment : {
   environment :  {
     PATH : "/usr/local/bin:$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH"
@@ -130,6 +136,7 @@ rbcheck : ${common} {
 
 builds = [
   ${gateTestLinux}       {capabilities : [linux, amd64],  targets : [gate, post-merge],  name: "gate-test-linux-amd64"}
+  ${gateTestNoSpecialsLinux}       {capabilities : [linux, amd64],  targets : [gate, post-merge],  name: "gate-test-linux-amd64-nospecials"}
   ${gateTestDarwin} {capabilities : [darwin, amd64],   targets : [gate, post-merge],  name: "gate-test-darwin-amd64"}
   ${gateStyle}      {capabilities : [linux, amd64],   targets : [gate, post-merge],  name: "gate-style-linux-amd64"}
   ${rbcheck}        {capabilities : [linux, amd64],   targets : [gate, post-merge],  name: "gate-rbcheck-linux-amd64"}
diff --git a/mx.fastr/mx_fastr.py b/mx.fastr/mx_fastr.py
index 7f3f3394cc785539238560edc7777240361a4402..6964eff8d89f7243c6cdcf60596632ddee9d4d82 100644
--- a/mx.fastr/mx_fastr.py
+++ b/mx.fastr/mx_fastr.py
@@ -252,6 +252,11 @@ def _fastr_gate_runner(args, tasks):
             if junit(['--tests', _gate_noapps_unit_tests(), '--check-expected-output']) != 0:
                 t.abort('unit tests expected output check failed')
 
+    with mx_gate.Task('UnitTests: no specials', tasks) as t:
+        if t:
+            if junit(['--J', '@-DR:-UseSpecials', '--tests', _gate_noapps_unit_tests()]) != 0:
+                t.abort('unit tests failed')
+
     with mx_gate.Task('UnitTests', tasks) as t:
         if t:
             if junit(['--tests', _gate_noapps_unit_tests()]) != 0: