diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/test.yml b/.gitea/workflows/test.yml
index ba0e5a7..caecda4 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/test.yml
@@ -5,9 +5,15 @@ on:
     branches: [master]
   pull_request:
     branches: [master]
+  # Allow manual runs (e.g. to validate after a release commit was skipped).
+  workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
   test:
+    # Skip release-publishing commits — version bumps don't affect lint/tests
+    # and the release.yml pipeline is already running. PRs and manual dispatch
+    # always run.
+    if: ${{ github.event_name != 'push' || !startsWith(github.event.head_commit.message, 'chore: release') }}
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Checkout