diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 86bb5c8..1eff46c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,14 @@ on:
     branches: [main, v7]
   pull_request:
     branches: [main, v7]
+  # Lets another workflow start this one against a specific ref.
+  #
+  # The spec-drift job opens its PR with GITHUB_TOKEN, and GitHub does not
+  # start workflow runs from GITHUB_TOKEN-raised events — so the required
+  # checks never report and the PR is blocked on a report it can never get.
+  # workflow_dispatch and repository_dispatch are the two documented
+  # exceptions to that rule, so drift can dispatch this run itself.
+  workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
   test: