diff --git a/.github/workflows/semrel-02-rel.yml b/.github/workflows/semrel-02-rel.yml
index a2c9e221d..869a5ecca 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/semrel-02-rel.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/semrel-02-rel.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # refs:
 # - https://shipit.dev/posts/trigger-github-actions-on-pr-close.html
 # - https://github.com/orgs/community/discussions/26724
+# - https://docs.github.com/en/actions/writing-workflows/choosing-when-your-workflow-runs/events-that-trigger-workflows#running-your-pull_request-workflow-when-a-pull-request-merges
 
 name: Release Testing
 
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   rc:
-    if: github.event.pull_request.merged == true
+    if: ${{ github.event_name == "workflow_dispatch" || github.event.pull_request.merged == true }}
     uses: ./.github/workflows/semrel-rc.yml
   soak:
     needs: [rc]
diff --git a/.github/workflows/semrel-e2e.yml b/.github/workflows/semrel-e2e.yml
index fa2a9f9d0..9323b5224 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/semrel-e2e.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/semrel-e2e.yml
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   pepr-build:
-    name: controller image
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Harden Runner
@@ -23,7 +22,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: clone pepr
         uses: actions/checkout@692973e3d937129bcbf40652eb9f2f61becf3332 # v4.1.7
         with:
-          repository: defenseunicorns/pepr
+          repository: btlghrants/pepr-semrel
           path: pepr
 
       - name: "set env: PEPR"
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: clone pepr
         uses: actions/checkout@692973e3d937129bcbf40652eb9f2f61becf3332 # v4.1.7
         with:
-          repository: defenseunicorns/pepr
+          repository: btlghrants/pepr-semrel
           path: pepr
 
       - name: "set env: PEPR"
@@ -100,7 +99,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: create matrix
         run: |
           matrix=$(
-            node "$PEPR/.github/workflows/semrel-02-e2e-matrix.js" "$PEXEX"
+            node "$PEPR/.github/workflows/semrel-e2e-matrix.js" "$PEXEX"
           )
           echo "matrix=${matrix}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
         id: create-matrix