Using "only merge_requests" in .gitlab-ci.yml behaves like a logical OR rather than AND

Summary

Strange behavior when combining merge_requests and changes under a only directive in gitlab runner .gitlab-ci.yml. merge_requests seems to behave like a logical OR, rather than AND as specified in the documentation.

I have two different pipelines set up with the intention of being run upon a merge request that changes specified files (see example below). This piece of documentation specifies how to do it.

My configuration is very similar to the documentation, however, it seems that any push to a branch in a merge request (regardless of files changed) will trigger all pipelines labeled with merge_requests.

Steps to reproduce

I am using merge_requests in combination with changes in an only block, like this:

pipeline_a:
  script: 
    - ./script_a
  only:
    refs:
      - merge_requests
    changes:
      - sections/section_a/**/*
      - config_a.yml

pipeline_b:
  script: 
    - ./script_b
  only:
    refs:
      - merge_requests
    changes:
      - sections/section_b/**/*
      - config_b.yml

When I make changes to sections/section_b/file, both pipeline_a and pipeline_b are run.

What is the current bug behavior?

When I make changes to sections/section_b/file, both pipeline_a and pipeline_b are run.

What is the expected correct behavior?

When I make changes to sections/section_b/file, only pipeline_b should run.

Output of checks

Results of GitLab environment info

Expand for output related to GitLab environment info 
System information
System:		Ubuntu 16.04
Current User:	git
Using RVM:	no
Ruby Version:	2.5.3p105
Gem Version:	2.7.6
Bundler Version:1.16.6
Rake Version:	12.3.2
Redis Version:	3.2.12
Git Version:	2.18.1
Sidekiq Version:5.2.3
Go Version:	unknown


GitLab information
Version:	11.7.5
Revision:	c5b5b18
Directory:	/opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails
DB Adapter:	postgresql
URL:		https://gitlab.cs.wmich.edu
HTTP Clone URL:	https://gitlab.cs.wmich.edu/some-group/some-project.git
SSH Clone URL:	git@gitlab.cs.wmich.edu:some-group/some-project.git
Using LDAP:	no
Using Omniauth:	yes
Omniauth Providers:


GitLab Shell
Version:	8.4.4
Repository storage paths:
  • default: /var/opt/gitlab/git-data/repositories Hooks: /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-shell/hooks Git: /opt/gitlab/embedded/bin/git

Results of GitLab application Check

Expand for output related to the GitLab application check 
Checking GitLab subtasks ...

Checking GitLab Shell ...


GitLab Shell: ... GitLab Shell version >= 8.4.4 ? ... OK (8.4.4)
Running /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-shell/bin/check
Check GitLab API access: OK
Redis available via internal API: OK


Access to /var/opt/gitlab/.ssh/authorized_keys: OK
gitlab-shell self-check successful


Checking GitLab Shell ... Finished


Checking Gitaly ...


Gitaly: ... default ... OK


Checking Gitaly ... Finished


Checking Sidekiq ...


Sidekiq: ... Running? ... yes
Number of Sidekiq processes ... 1


Checking Sidekiq ... Finished


Checking Incoming Email ...


Incoming Email: ... Reply by email is disabled in config/gitlab.yml


Checking Incoming Email ... Finished


Checking LDAP ...


LDAP: ... LDAP is disabled in config/gitlab.yml


Checking LDAP ... Finished


Checking GitLab App ...


Git configured correctly? ... yes
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Log directory writable? ... yes
Tmp directory writable? ... yes
Uploads directory exists? ... yes
Uploads directory has correct permissions? ... yes
Uploads directory tmp has correct permissions? ... yes
Init script exists? ... skipped (omnibus-gitlab has no init script)
Init script up-to-date? ... skipped (omnibus-gitlab has no init script)
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Git version >= 2.18.0 ? ... yes (2.18.1)
Git user has default SSH configuration? ... yes
Active users: ... 515


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