diff --git a/app/models/ci/pipeline.rb b/app/models/ci/pipeline.rb
index 791bae172718e0c54f8c517adb95cf4d7af49e07..77704ac02d293f5692bb886db46a17414ec563d7 100644
--- a/app/models/ci/pipeline.rb
+++ b/app/models/ci/pipeline.rb
@@ -1152,6 +1152,10 @@ def modified_paths
       end
     end
 
+    def modified_paths_since(compare_to_sha)
+      project.repository.diff_stats(project.repository.merge_base(compare_to_sha, sha), sha).paths
+    end
+
     def all_worktree_paths
       strong_memoize(:all_worktree_paths) do
         project.repository.ls_files(sha)
diff --git a/config/feature_flags/development/ci_rules_changes_compare.yml b/config/feature_flags/development/ci_rules_changes_compare.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b405c2ab919a4ef192f3ab54f2c79f092e9a55a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/feature_flags/development/ci_rules_changes_compare.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+---
+name: ci_rules_changes_compare
+introduced_by_url: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/90968
+rollout_issue_url: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/366412
+milestone: '15.3'
+type: development
+group: group::pipeline authoring
+default_enabled: false
diff --git a/doc/ci/yaml/index.md b/doc/ci/yaml/index.md
index 6d8ca7fe8cf0591c119af1527092f79ae8d1a548..3fbc6a40a4b9fdb45835816582b635e7d2bb3d69 100644
--- a/doc/ci/yaml/index.md
+++ b/doc/ci/yaml/index.md
@@ -3244,6 +3244,64 @@ docker build:
 
 - [Jobs or pipelines can run unexpectedly when using `rules: changes`](../jobs/job_control.md#jobs-or-pipelines-run-unexpectedly-when-using-changes).
 
+##### `rules:changes:paths`
+
+> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/90171) in GitLab 15.2.
+
+`rules:changes:paths` is an alias for `rules:changes`.
+
+**Keyword type**: Job keyword. You can use it only as part of a job.
+
+**Possible inputs**:
+
+- An array of file paths.
+
+**Example of `rules:changes:paths`**:
+
+```yaml
+docker build:
+  script: docker build -t my-image:$CI_COMMIT_REF_SLUG .
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"
+      changes:
+        paths:
+          - Dockerfile
+```
+
+In this example, the `docker build` job is only included when the `Dockerfile` has changed
+and the pipeline source is a merge request event.
+
+##### `rules:changes:compare_to`
+
+> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/293645) in GitLab 15.3 [with a flag](../../administration/feature_flags.md) named `ci_rules_changes_compare`. Disabled by default.
+
+Use `rules:changes:compare_to` to specify which ref to compare against for changes to the files
+listed under [`rules:changes:paths`](#ruleschangespaths).
+
+**Keyword type**: Job keyword. You can use it only as part of a job, and it must be combined with `rules:changes:paths`.
+
+**Possible inputs**:
+
+- A branch name, like `main`, `branch1`, or `refs/heads/branch1`.
+- A tag name, like `tag1` or `refs/tags/tag1`.
+- A commit SHA, like `2fg31ga14b`.
+
+**Example of `rules:changes:compare_to`**:
+
+```yaml
+docker build:
+  script: docker build -t my-image:$CI_COMMIT_REF_SLUG .
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"
+      changes:
+        paths:
+          - Dockerfile
+        compare_to: 'refs/heads/branch1'
+```
+
+In this example, the `docker build` job is only included when the `Dockerfile` has changed
+relative to `refs/heads/branch1` and the pipeline source is a merge request event.
+
 #### `rules:exists`
 
 > [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/24021) in GitLab 12.4.
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/ci/build/rules.rb b/lib/gitlab/ci/build/rules.rb
index 2d4f9cf635b53c62569f3070b9e363d4bc7f7c7d..dee95534b0755416240e67e25d0b6660beb76959 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/ci/build/rules.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/ci/build/rules.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ module Build
       class Rules
         include ::Gitlab::Utils::StrongMemoize
 
-        Result = Struct.new(:when, :start_in, :allow_failure, :variables) do
+        Result = Struct.new(:when, :start_in, :allow_failure, :variables, :errors) do
           def build_attributes
             {
               when: self.when,
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ def evaluate(pipeline, context)
           else
             Result.new('never')
           end
+        rescue Rule::Clause::ParseError => e
+          Result.new('never', nil, nil, nil, [e.message])
         end
 
         private
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/ci/build/rules/rule/clause.rb b/lib/gitlab/ci/build/rules/rule/clause.rb
index 6d4bbbb8c21c94115b876889343851b3b16a8d82..503f2a8736114c8f46195e081761987a87cd9f00 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/ci/build/rules/rule/clause.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/ci/build/rules/rule/clause.rb
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ class Rules::Rule::Clause
         # Used for job's inclusion rules configuration.
         #
         UnknownClauseError = Class.new(StandardError)
+        ParseError = Class.new(StandardError)
 
         def self.fabricate(type, value)
           "#{self}::#{type.to_s.camelize}".safe_constantize&.new(value)
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/ci/build/rules/rule/clause/changes.rb b/lib/gitlab/ci/build/rules/rule/clause/changes.rb
index 1bcd87c9d93f4ae4237498ba32f463c59e3fff71..29e43198635a930944a6b22b39d839c861b36a0e 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/ci/build/rules/rule/clause/changes.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/ci/build/rules/rule/clause/changes.rb
@@ -11,10 +11,12 @@ def initialize(globs)
         end
 
         def satisfied_by?(pipeline, context)
-          return true unless pipeline&.modified_paths
+          modified_paths = find_modified_paths(pipeline)
+
+          return true unless modified_paths
 
           expanded_globs = expand_globs(context)
-          pipeline.modified_paths.any? do |path|
+          modified_paths.any? do |path|
             expanded_globs.any? do |glob|
               File.fnmatch?(glob, path, File::FNM_PATHNAME | File::FNM_DOTMATCH | File::FNM_EXTGLOB)
             end
@@ -40,6 +42,28 @@ def paths
             end
           end
         end
+
+        def find_modified_paths(pipeline)
+          return unless pipeline
+          return pipeline.modified_paths unless ::Feature.enabled?(:ci_rules_changes_compare, pipeline.project)
+
+          compare_to_sha = find_compare_to_sha(pipeline)
+
+          if compare_to_sha
+            pipeline.modified_paths_since(compare_to_sha)
+          else
+            pipeline.modified_paths
+          end
+        end
+
+        def find_compare_to_sha(pipeline)
+          return unless @globs.include?(:compare_to)
+
+          commit = pipeline.project.commit(@globs[:compare_to])
+          raise Rules::Rule::Clause::ParseError, 'rules:changes:compare_to is not a valid ref' unless commit
+
+          commit.sha
+        end
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/rules/rule/changes.rb b/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/rules/rule/changes.rb
index a56b928450abca62a2c87c12f35a6408d8d3f28e..107e7c228af0eda4fe007fe8641ec1de4ff5e8db 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/rules/rule/changes.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/rules/rule/changes.rb
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class ComplexChanges < ::Gitlab::Config::Entry::Node
                 include ::Gitlab::Config::Entry::Validatable
                 include ::Gitlab::Config::Entry::Attributable
 
-                ALLOWED_KEYS = %i[paths].freeze
+                ALLOWED_KEYS = %i[paths compare_to].freeze
                 REQUIRED_KEYS = %i[paths].freeze
 
                 attributes ALLOWED_KEYS
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ class ComplexChanges < ::Gitlab::Config::Entry::Node
                     validates :paths,
                               array_of_strings: true,
                               length: { maximum: 50, too_long: "has too many entries (maximum %{count})" }
+                    validates :compare_to, type: String, allow_nil: true
                   end
                 end
               end
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/ci/pipeline/seed/build.rb b/lib/gitlab/ci/pipeline/seed/build.rb
index 901208f325a68ae67d929b7dbb8c0cbb383a57e8..93106b96af20a723942fa97082d85f28880ed867 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/ci/pipeline/seed/build.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/ci/pipeline/seed/build.rb
@@ -54,9 +54,11 @@ def included?
           end
 
           def errors
-            return unless included?
-
             strong_memoize(:errors) do
+              # We check rules errors before checking "included?" because rules affects its inclusion status.
+              next rules_errors if rules_errors
+              next unless included?
+
               [needs_errors, variable_expansion_errors].compact.flatten
             end
           end
@@ -168,6 +170,12 @@ def rules_result
             end
           end
 
+          def rules_errors
+            strong_memoize(:rules_errors) do
+              ["Failed to parse rule for #{name}: #{rules_result.errors.join(', ')}"] if rules_result.errors.present?
+            end
+          end
+
           def evaluate_context
             strong_memoize(:evaluate_context) do
               Gitlab::Ci::Build::Context::Build.new(@pipeline, @seed_attributes)
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/ci/pipeline/seed/stage.rb b/lib/gitlab/ci/pipeline/seed/stage.rb
index bc56fe9bef93bbed1faf18c14124537420922fec..7cf6466cf4b25f5660ccc5c1465e5450b5d843b3 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/ci/pipeline/seed/stage.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/ci/pipeline/seed/stage.rb
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def seeds
 
           def errors
             strong_memoize(:errors) do
-              seeds.flat_map(&:errors).compact
+              @builds.flat_map(&:errors).compact
             end
           end
 
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/build/rules/rule/clause/changes_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/build/rules/rule/clause/changes_spec.rb
index 3892b88598a5e8300c3a8cc5afae6339330c2e73..fa92d1a830d94021a17a4950dbdbe54e70e46e5e 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/build/rules/rule/clause/changes_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/build/rules/rule/clause/changes_spec.rb
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@
 
 RSpec.describe Gitlab::Ci::Build::Rules::Rule::Clause::Changes do
   describe '#satisfied_by?' do
-    subject { described_class.new(globs).satisfied_by?(pipeline, context) }
+    let(:context) { instance_double(Gitlab::Ci::Build::Context::Base) }
+
+    subject(:satisfied_by) { described_class.new(globs).satisfied_by?(pipeline, context) }
 
     context 'a glob matching rule' do
       using RSpec::Parameterized::TableSyntax
@@ -92,5 +94,97 @@
         it { is_expected.to be_truthy }
       end
     end
+
+    context 'when using compare_to' do
+      let_it_be(:project) do
+        create(:project, :custom_repo,
+               files: { 'README.md' => 'readme' })
+      end
+
+      let_it_be(:user) { project.owner }
+
+      before_all do
+        project.repository.add_branch(user, 'feature_1', 'master')
+
+        project.repository.create_file(
+          user, 'file1.txt', 'file 1', message: 'Create file1.txt', branch_name: 'feature_1'
+        )
+        project.repository.add_tag(user, 'tag_1', 'feature_1')
+
+        project.repository.create_file(
+          user, 'file2.txt', 'file 2', message: 'Create file2.txt', branch_name: 'feature_1'
+        )
+        project.repository.add_branch(user, 'feature_2', 'feature_1')
+
+        project.repository.update_file(
+          user, 'file2.txt', 'file 2 updated', message: 'Update file2.txt', branch_name: 'feature_2'
+        )
+      end
+
+      context 'when compare_to is branch or tag' do
+        using RSpec::Parameterized::TableSyntax
+
+        where(:pipeline_ref, :compare_to, :paths, :ff, :result) do
+          'feature_1' | 'master'    | ['file1.txt'] | true  | true
+          'feature_1' | 'master'    | ['README.md'] | true  | false
+          'feature_1' | 'master'    | ['xyz.md']    | true  | false
+          'feature_2' | 'master'    | ['file1.txt'] | true  | true
+          'feature_2' | 'master'    | ['file2.txt'] | true  | true
+          'feature_2' | 'feature_1' | ['file1.txt'] | true  | false
+          'feature_2' | 'feature_1' | ['file1.txt'] | false | true
+          'feature_2' | 'feature_1' | ['file2.txt'] | true  | true
+          'feature_1' | 'tag_1'     | ['file1.txt'] | true  | false
+          'feature_1' | 'tag_1'     | ['file1.txt'] | false | true
+          'feature_1' | 'tag_1'     | ['file2.txt'] | true  | true
+          'feature_2' | 'tag_1'     | ['file2.txt'] | true  | true
+        end
+
+        with_them do
+          let(:globs) { { paths: paths, compare_to: compare_to } }
+
+          let(:pipeline) do
+            build(:ci_pipeline, project: project, ref: pipeline_ref, sha: project.commit(pipeline_ref).sha)
+          end
+
+          before do
+            stub_feature_flags(ci_rules_changes_compare: ff)
+          end
+
+          it { is_expected.to eq(result) }
+        end
+      end
+
+      context 'when compare_to is a sha' do
+        let(:globs) { { paths: ['file2.txt'], compare_to: project.commit('tag_1').sha } }
+
+        let(:pipeline) do
+          build(:ci_pipeline, project: project, ref: 'feature_2', sha: project.commit('feature_2').sha)
+        end
+
+        it { is_expected.to be_truthy }
+      end
+
+      context 'when compare_to is not a valid ref' do
+        let(:globs) { { paths: ['file1.txt'], compare_to: 'xyz' } }
+
+        let(:pipeline) do
+          build(:ci_pipeline, project: project, ref: 'feature_2', sha: project.commit('feature_2').sha)
+        end
+
+        it 'raises ParseError' do
+          expect { satisfied_by }.to raise_error(
+            ::Gitlab::Ci::Build::Rules::Rule::Clause::ParseError, 'rules:changes:compare_to is not a valid ref'
+          )
+        end
+
+        context 'when the FF ci_rules_changes_compare is disabled' do
+          before do
+            stub_feature_flags(ci_rules_changes_compare: false)
+          end
+
+          it { is_expected.to be_truthy }
+        end
+      end
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/rules/rule/changes_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/rules/rule/changes_spec.rb
index 295561b3c4d26ac7648969586f07bcbd6d853d72..64f0a64074c215727af6282f1738609c7c936c0e 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/rules/rule/changes_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/rules/rule/changes_spec.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 
-require 'fast_spec_helper'
+require 'spec_helper'
 
 RSpec.describe Gitlab::Ci::Config::Entry::Rules::Rule::Changes do
   let(:factory) do
@@ -119,6 +119,23 @@
         end
       end
     end
+
+    context 'with paths and compare_to' do
+      let(:config) { { paths: %w[app/ lib/], compare_to: 'branch1' } }
+
+      it { is_expected.to be_valid }
+
+      context 'when compare_to is not a string' do
+        let(:config) { { paths: %w[app/ lib/], compare_to: 1 } }
+
+        it { is_expected.not_to be_valid }
+
+        it 'returns information about errors' do
+          expect(entry.errors)
+            .to include(/should be a string/)
+        end
+      end
+    end
   end
 
   describe '#value' do
@@ -137,5 +154,13 @@
 
       it { is_expected.to eq(config) }
     end
+
+    context 'with paths and compare_to' do
+      let(:config) do
+        { paths: ['app/', 'lib/'], compare_to: 'branch1' }
+      end
+
+      it { is_expected.to eq(config) }
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/rules/rule_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/rules/rule_spec.rb
index 93f4a66bfb6c53c931aa23e8136a6de518fe18c4..10b4cba3bbb13f99bf43b60cc80e5143821618ac 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/rules/rule_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/config/entry/rules/rule_spec.rb
@@ -418,6 +418,12 @@
 
         it { is_expected.to eq(config) }
       end
+
+      context 'when using changes with paths and compare_to' do
+        let(:config) { { changes: { paths: %w[app/ lib/ spec/ other/* paths/**/*.rb], compare_to: 'branch1' } } }
+
+        it { is_expected.to eq(config) }
+      end
     end
 
     context 'when default value has been provided' do
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/pipeline/seed/build_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/pipeline/seed/build_spec.rb
index 040f3ab5830f18265244a7c07bcc4e6fc18f1040..890ba51157a43a2e58fafb21cae306adf551b596 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/pipeline/seed/build_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/pipeline/seed/build_spec.rb
@@ -769,7 +769,7 @@
           with_them do
             it { is_expected.not_to be_included }
 
-            it 'correctly populates when:' do
+            it 'still correctly populates when:' do
               expect(seed_build.attributes).to include(when: 'never')
             end
           end
@@ -958,6 +958,26 @@
           expect(seed_build.attributes).to include(when: 'never')
         end
       end
+
+      context 'with invalid rules raising error' do
+        let(:rule_set) do
+          [
+            { changes: { paths: ['README.md'], compare_to: 'invalid-ref' }, when: 'never' }
+          ]
+        end
+
+        it { is_expected.not_to be_included }
+
+        it 'correctly populates when:' do
+          expect(seed_build.attributes).to include(when: 'never')
+        end
+
+        it 'returns an error' do
+          expect(seed_build.errors).to contain_exactly(
+            'Failed to parse rule for rspec: rules:changes:compare_to is not a valid ref'
+          )
+        end
+      end
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/spec/models/ci/pipeline_spec.rb b/spec/models/ci/pipeline_spec.rb
index 081fa6cbbaeb31c7eceb2a1590e476adbd01ef63..b1ddc26b1dc11b56e86b8c7dc1b55631b267c0fc 100644
--- a/spec/models/ci/pipeline_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/ci/pipeline_spec.rb
@@ -2162,6 +2162,60 @@ def create_build(name, *traits, queued_at: current, started_from: 0, **opts)
     end
   end
 
+  describe '#modified_paths_since' do
+    let(:project) do
+      create(:project, :custom_repo,
+             files: { 'file1.txt' => 'file 1' })
+    end
+
+    let(:user) { project.owner }
+    let(:main_branch) { project.default_branch }
+    let(:new_branch) { 'feature_x' }
+    let(:pipeline) { build(:ci_pipeline, project: project, sha: new_branch) }
+
+    subject(:modified_paths_since) { pipeline.modified_paths_since(main_branch) }
+
+    before do
+      project.repository.add_branch(user, new_branch, main_branch)
+    end
+
+    context 'when no change in the new branch' do
+      it 'returns an empty array' do
+        expect(modified_paths_since).to be_empty
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when adding a new file' do
+      before do
+        project.repository.create_file(user, 'file2.txt', 'file 2', message: 'Create file2.txt', branch_name: new_branch)
+      end
+
+      it 'returns the new file path' do
+        expect(modified_paths_since).to eq(['file2.txt'])
+      end
+
+      context 'and when updating an existing file' do
+        before do
+          project.repository.update_file(user, 'file1.txt', 'file 1 updated', message: 'Update file1.txt', branch_name: new_branch)
+        end
+
+        it 'returns the new and updated file paths' do
+          expect(modified_paths_since).to eq(['file1.txt', 'file2.txt'])
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when updating an existing file' do
+      before do
+        project.repository.update_file(user, 'file1.txt', 'file 1 updated', message: 'Update file1.txt', branch_name: new_branch)
+      end
+
+      it 'returns the updated file path' do
+        expect(modified_paths_since).to eq(['file1.txt'])
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
   describe '#all_worktree_paths' do
     let(:files) { { 'main.go' => '', 'mocks/mocks.go' => '' } }
     let(:project) { create(:project, :custom_repo, files: files) }
diff --git a/spec/services/ci/create_pipeline_service_spec.rb b/spec/services/ci/create_pipeline_service_spec.rb
index 9cef7f7dadb1113f9bed23bd2d947cbd4ae65cd8..9e1fb46558e5bd0a4a827f44b4b9e1cdb5f17f90 100644
--- a/spec/services/ci/create_pipeline_service_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/services/ci/create_pipeline_service_spec.rb
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
     # rubocop:disable Metrics/ParameterLists
     def execute_service(
       source: :push,
+      before: '00000000',
       after: project.commit.id,
       ref: ref_name,
       trigger_request: nil,
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ def execute_service(
       target_sha: nil,
       save_on_errors: true)
       params = { ref: ref,
-                 before: '00000000',
+                 before: before,
                  after: after,
                  variables_attributes: variables_attributes,
                  push_options: push_options,
@@ -2152,6 +2153,145 @@ def find_job(name)
         end
       end
 
+      context 'with changes: paths and compare_to' do
+        before_all do
+          project.repository.add_branch(user, 'feature_1', 'master')
+
+          project.repository.create_file(
+            user, 'file1.txt', 'file 1', message: 'Create file1.txt', branch_name: 'feature_1'
+          )
+
+          project.repository.add_branch(user, 'feature_2', 'feature_1')
+
+          project.repository.create_file(
+            user, 'file2.txt', 'file 2', message: 'Create file2.txt', branch_name: 'feature_2'
+          )
+        end
+
+        let(:changed_file) { 'file2.txt' }
+        let(:ref_name) { 'feature_2' }
+
+        let(:response) { execute_service(ref: ref_name, before: nil, after: project.commit(ref_name).sha) }
+
+        context 'for jobs rules' do
+          let(:config) do
+            <<-EOY
+            job1:
+              script: exit 0
+              rules:
+                - changes:
+                    paths: [#{changed_file}]
+                    compare_to: #{compare_to}
+
+            job2:
+              script: exit 0
+            EOY
+          end
+
+          context 'when there is no such compare_to ref' do
+            let(:compare_to) { 'invalid-branch' }
+
+            it 'returns an error' do
+              expect(pipeline.errors.full_messages).to eq([
+                'Failed to parse rule for job1: rules:changes:compare_to is not a valid ref'
+              ])
+            end
+
+            context 'when the FF ci_rules_changes_compare is not enabled' do
+              before do
+                stub_feature_flags(ci_rules_changes_compare: false)
+              end
+
+              it 'ignores compare_to and changes is always true' do
+                expect(build_names).to contain_exactly('job1', 'job2')
+              end
+            end
+          end
+
+          context 'when the compare_to ref exists' do
+            let(:compare_to) { 'feature_1'}
+
+            context 'when the rule matches' do
+              it 'creates job1 and job2' do
+                expect(build_names).to contain_exactly('job1', 'job2')
+              end
+
+              context 'when the FF ci_rules_changes_compare is not enabled' do
+                before do
+                  stub_feature_flags(ci_rules_changes_compare: false)
+                end
+
+                it 'ignores compare_to and changes is always true' do
+                  expect(build_names).to contain_exactly('job1', 'job2')
+                end
+              end
+            end
+
+            context 'when the rule does not match' do
+              let(:changed_file) { 'file1.txt' }
+
+              it 'does not create job1' do
+                expect(build_names).to contain_exactly('job2')
+              end
+
+              context 'when the FF ci_rules_changes_compare is not enabled' do
+                before do
+                  stub_feature_flags(ci_rules_changes_compare: false)
+                end
+
+                it 'ignores compare_to and changes is always true' do
+                  expect(build_names).to contain_exactly('job1', 'job2')
+                end
+              end
+            end
+          end
+        end
+
+        context 'for workflow rules' do
+          let(:config) do
+            <<-EOY
+            workflow:
+              rules:
+                - changes:
+                    paths: [#{changed_file}]
+                    compare_to: #{compare_to}
+
+            job1:
+              script: exit 0
+            EOY
+          end
+
+          let(:compare_to) { 'feature_1'}
+
+          context 'when the rule matches' do
+            it 'creates job1' do
+              expect(pipeline).to be_created_successfully
+              expect(build_names).to contain_exactly('job1')
+            end
+
+            context 'when the FF ci_rules_changes_compare is not enabled' do
+              before do
+                stub_feature_flags(ci_rules_changes_compare: false)
+              end
+
+              it 'ignores compare_to and changes is always true' do
+                expect(pipeline).to be_created_successfully
+                expect(build_names).to contain_exactly('job1')
+              end
+            end
+          end
+
+          context 'when the rule does not match' do
+            let(:changed_file) { 'file1.txt' }
+
+            it 'does not create job1' do
+              expect(pipeline).not_to be_created_successfully
+              expect(build_names).to be_empty
+            end
+          end
+        end
+      end
+
       context 'with mixed if: and changes: rules' do
         let(:config) do
           <<-EOY