diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-package.yml b/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
index 21467eeb..f2974b87 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
@@ -22,12 +22,32 @@ concurrency:
   cancel-in-progress: true
 
 jobs:
+  meta:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    outputs:
+      commit-message: ${{ steps.get-commit-message.outputs.commit-message }}
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha || github.sha }} # gets correct commit message
+      - name: Show commit
+        run: git show -s
+      - name: Output commit message
+        id: get-commit-message
+        run: |
+          {
+            echo 'commit-message<<CI_EOF'
+            git show -s --format="%B"
+            echo CI_EOF
+          } >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+
   lint:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           submodules: true
+          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }} # gets correct commit message
       - uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
           python-version: "3.10"
@@ -63,7 +83,6 @@ jobs:
           # https://github.com/actions/setup-python/issues/852
           - os: macos-latest
             python-version: "3.7"
-
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
@@ -87,9 +106,11 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           pytest -v --benchmark-disable -n auto
 
+  # NOTE: build step only runs on tag builds or when the commit message contains
+  # "[ci test build]" for testing
   build:
-    needs: [test]
-    if: "startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')"
+    needs: [meta, test]
+    if: "${{ startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/') || contains(needs.meta.outputs.commit-message, '[ci test build]') }}"
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     strategy:
       fail-fast: true
@@ -104,7 +125,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v3
         with:
           platforms: arm64
-      - uses: pypa/cibuildwheel@v2.17.0
+      - uses: pypa/cibuildwheel@v2.20.0
         env:
           CIBW_SKIP: cp36-* pp*-win* pp*-macosx* *_i686
           CIBW_TEST_SKIP: "*-win_arm64"
@@ -118,10 +139,11 @@ jobs:
           name: wheels-${{ runner.os }}
           path: dist
 
+  # NOTE: release step only runs on tag builds
   release:
     name: Release
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: "startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')"
+    if: ${{ startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/') }}
     needs: [build]
     steps:
       - uses: actions/download-artifact@v4