diff --git a/ci/verify_examples.sh b/ci/verify_examples.sh
index ef5a1101095d7..4d65fa2c5bcf9 100755
--- a/ci/verify_examples.sh
+++ b/ci/verify_examples.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash -E
 
-TESTFILTER="${1:-*}"
+TESTCOMMAND="${1:-}"
+TESTFILTER="${2:-*}"
 FAILED=()
 SRCDIR="${SRCDIR:-$(pwd)}"
 EXCLUDED_BUILD_CONFIGS=${EXCLUDED_BUILD_CONFIGS:-"^./cache/responses.yaml|^./jaeger-native-tracing|docker-compose"}
@@ -54,9 +55,23 @@ verify_build_configs () {
     fi
 }
 
-verify_build_configs
-run_examples
-
+case "$TESTCOMMAND" in
+    build_config)
+	echo "Running build_configs test"
+	verify_build_configs
+	;;
+    sandbox)
+	echo "Running sandbox test"
+	run_examples
+	;;
+    ""|all)
+	echo "Running all tests"
+	verify_build_configs
+	run_examples
+	;;
+    *)
+	echo "Usage: ./ci/verify_examples.sh [build_config|sandbox|all] [<test_filter>]"
+esac
 
 if [[ "${#FAILED[@]}" -ne "0" ]]; then
     echo "TESTS FAILED:"