diff --git a/tests/python/shared/fixtures/init.py b/tests/python/shared/fixtures/init.py
index d0a68b94..77c7e702 100644
--- a/tests/python/shared/fixtures/init.py
+++ b/tests/python/shared/fixtures/init.py
@@ -259,12 +259,21 @@ def start_services(rebuild=False):
     docker_cp(CVAT_DB_DIR / "data.json", f"{PREFIX}_cvat_server_1:/tmp/data.json")
 
 
-def pytest_sessionstart(session):
+def pytest_sessionstart(session: pytest.Session) -> None:
     stop = session.config.getoption("--stop-services")
     start = session.config.getoption("--start-services")
     rebuild = session.config.getoption("--rebuild")
     cleanup = session.config.getoption("--cleanup")
     dumpdb = session.config.getoption("--dumpdb")
+
+    if session.config.getoption("--collect-only"):
+        if any((stop, start, rebuild, cleanup, dumpdb)):
+            raise Exception(
+                """--collect-only is not compatible with any of the other options:
+                --stop-services --start-services --rebuild --cleanup --dumpdb"""
+            )
+        return  # don't need to start the services to collect tests
+
     platform = session.config.getoption("--platform")
 
     if platform == "kube" and any((stop, start, rebuild, cleanup, dumpdb)):
@@ -338,7 +347,10 @@ def pytest_sessionstart(session):
         )
 
 
-def pytest_sessionfinish(session, exitstatus):
+def pytest_sessionfinish(session: pytest.Session, exitstatus: int) -> None:
+    if session.config.getoption("--collect-only"):
+        return
+
     platform = session.config.getoption("--platform")
 
     if platform == "local":