diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index b028019c..c624351e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 name: PluralKit CI
 on:
-  - push
-  - pull_request
+  push:
+  pull_request:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+      inputs:
+        dispatchData:
 
 jobs:
   build-ci-container:
@@ -22,5 +25,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: ["build-ci-container"]
     container:
       image: ghcr.io/pluralkit/ci:${{ github.sha }}
+    env:
+      DISPATCH_DATA: ${{ inputs.dispatchData }}
     steps:
     - run: /run_ci.py
diff --git a/ci/run_ci.py b/ci/run_ci.py
index 443828d0..5aecff0c 100755
--- a/ci/run_ci.py
+++ b/ci/run_ci.py
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 
+import os
+
 print("hello from python!")
+print(f"data: {os.environment.get("DISPATCH_DATA")}")