diff --git a/.github/workflows/client-test.yml b/.github/workflows/client-test.yml
index a3d6282675..0c99a20d11 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/client-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/client-test.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ on:
       - "app/client/**"
       - "!app/client/cypress/manual_TestSuite/**"
 
+  # trigger for pushes to release and master
+  push:
+    branches: [ release, master ]
+
 # Change the working directory for all the jobs in this workflow
 defaults:
   run:
@@ -18,7 +22,12 @@ defaults:
 
 jobs:
   build:
-    if: github.event.review.state == 'approved'
+    # If the build has been triggered manually via workflow_dispatch or via a push to protected branches 
+    # then we don't check for the PR approved state
+    if: |
+      github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' || 
+      github.event_name == 'push' || 
+      (github.event_name == 'pull_request_review' && github.event.review.state == 'approved')
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     defaults:
       run: