diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index a30087d6ec9..574f9fe8c08 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -29,10 +29,11 @@ jobs:
         uses: ./.github/actions/detect-docs-changes
 
   # Detect which heavy areas are touched so PRs can skip unrelated expensive jobs.
-  # Push to main keeps broad coverage.
+  # Push to main keeps broad coverage, but this job still needs to run so
+  # downstream jobs that list it in `needs` are not skipped.
   changed-scope:
     needs: [docs-scope]
-    if: github.event_name == 'pull_request' && needs.docs-scope.outputs.docs_only != 'true'
+    if: needs.docs-scope.outputs.docs_only != 'true'
     runs-on: blacksmith-16vcpu-ubuntu-2404
     outputs:
       run_node: ${{ steps.scope.outputs.run_node }}