diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 76bb1301..de52d538 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -6,8 +6,12 @@ on:
       - main
   pull_request:
   workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      branch:
+        description: 'Branch to run tests against (leave empty to use the selected branch above)'
+        type: string
   schedule:
-    - cron: '0 */2 * * *'  # Every 2 hours; controlled by ENABLE_SCHEDULED_TESTS + SCHEDULED_TESTS_UNTIL vars
+    - cron: "0 */2 * * *" # Every 2 hours; stop by disabling the workflow or letting SCHEDULED_TESTS_UNTIL expire
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
@@ -126,17 +130,12 @@ jobs:
       enabled: ${{ steps.check.outputs.enabled }}
       branch: ${{ steps.check.outputs.branch }}
     steps:
-      - name: Check ENABLE_SCHEDULED_TESTS and SCHEDULED_TESTS_UNTIL
+      - name: Check SCHEDULED_TESTS_UNTIL
         id: check
         run: |
-          if [[ "${{ vars.ENABLE_SCHEDULED_TESTS }}" != "true" ]]; then
-            echo "Scheduled tests disabled (ENABLE_SCHEDULED_TESTS != true)"
-            echo "enabled=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-            exit 0
-          fi
           until_date="${{ vars.SCHEDULED_TESTS_UNTIL }}"
           if [[ -z "$until_date" ]]; then
-            echo "No expiry date set (SCHEDULED_TESTS_UNTIL is empty)"
+            echo "SCHEDULED_TESTS_UNTIL not set — skipping"
             echo "enabled=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
             exit 0
           fi
@@ -145,7 +144,7 @@ jobs:
           if (( now <= until )); then
             echo "Schedule active until $until_date"
             echo "enabled=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-            echo "branch=${{ vars.SCHEDULED_TESTS_BRANCH || 'main' }}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            echo "branch=main" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
           else
             echo "Schedule window expired on $until_date"
             echo "enabled=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
@@ -165,7 +164,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: ⬇️ Checkout Repository
         uses: actions/checkout@8e8c483db84b4bee98b60c0593521ed34d9990e8 # v6.0.1
         with:
-          ref: ${{ needs.schedule-gate.outputs.branch || github.ref }}
+          ref: ${{ inputs.branch || needs.schedule-gate.outputs.branch || github.ref }}
 
       - name: 📦 Setup pnpm
         uses: pnpm/action-setup@41ff72655975bd51cab0327fa583b6e92b6d3061 # v4.2.0
@@ -224,7 +223,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: ⬇️ Checkout Repository
         uses: actions/checkout@8e8c483db84b4bee98b60c0593521ed34d9990e8 # v6.0.1
         with:
-          ref: ${{ needs.schedule-gate.outputs.branch || github.ref }}
+          ref: ${{ inputs.branch || needs.schedule-gate.outputs.branch || github.ref }}
 
       - name: 📦 Setup pnpm
         uses: pnpm/action-setup@41ff72655975bd51cab0327fa583b6e92b6d3061 # v4.2.0
@@ -283,7 +282,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: ⬇️ Checkout Repository
         uses: actions/checkout@8e8c483db84b4bee98b60c0593521ed34d9990e8 # v6.0.1
         with:
-          ref: ${{ needs.schedule-gate.outputs.branch || github.ref }}
+          ref: ${{ inputs.branch || needs.schedule-gate.outputs.branch || github.ref }}
 
       - name: 📦 Setup pnpm
         uses: pnpm/action-setup@41ff72655975bd51cab0327fa583b6e92b6d3061 # v4.2.0
@@ -342,7 +341,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: ⬇️ Checkout Repository
         uses: actions/checkout@8e8c483db84b4bee98b60c0593521ed34d9990e8 # v6.0.1
         with:
-          ref: ${{ needs.schedule-gate.outputs.branch || github.ref }}
+          ref: ${{ inputs.branch || needs.schedule-gate.outputs.branch || github.ref }}
 
       - name: 📦 Setup pnpm
         uses: pnpm/action-setup@41ff72655975bd51cab0327fa583b6e92b6d3061 # v4.2.0
@@ -401,7 +400,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: ⬇️ Checkout Repository
         uses: actions/checkout@8e8c483db84b4bee98b60c0593521ed34d9990e8 # v6.0.1
         with:
-          ref: ${{ needs.schedule-gate.outputs.branch || github.ref }}
+          ref: ${{ inputs.branch || needs.schedule-gate.outputs.branch || github.ref }}
 
       - name: 📦 Setup pnpm
         uses: pnpm/action-setup@41ff72655975bd51cab0327fa583b6e92b6d3061 # v4.2.0