diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy-notify.yml b/.github/workflows/deploy-notify.yml
index 96ab5a5..469750e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy-notify.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy-notify.yml
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@ jobs:
       - name: DST guard
         id: dst
         run: |
+          if [ "${{ github.event_name }}" = "workflow_dispatch" ]; then
+            echo "Manual trigger — skipping DST guard"
+            echo "skip=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            exit 0
+          fi
           HOUR=$(TZ=America/New_York date +%H)
           if [ "$HOUR" != "18" ]; then
             echo "ET hour is $HOUR, not 18 — wrong DST rule fired"