diff --git a/.github/workflows/fv3_translate_tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/fv3_translate_tests.yaml
index d2da9488..11f894ea 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/fv3_translate_tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/fv3_translate_tests.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 name: "FV3 translate tests"
 on:
   pull_request:
+  push:
+    # We don't use a merge queue and allow to merge outdated branches for practical reasons,
+    # because pyFV3 and pace tests take a long time to run. The "safety net" is thus to run
+    # tests when pushing to protected branches.
+    branches: [develop, main]
 
 jobs:
   fv3_translate_tests:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/lint.yaml b/.github/workflows/lint.yaml
index 0407bce2..69a905ef 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lint.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lint.yaml
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 name: "Lint"
 on:
   pull_request:
+  push:
+    # We don't use a merge queue and allow to merge outdated branches for practical reasons,
+    # because pyFV3 and pace tests take a long time to run. The "safety net" is thus to run
+    # tests when pushing to protected branches.
+    branches: [develop, main]
 
-# cancel running jobs if theres a newer push
 concurrency:
+  # Cancel running jobs if theres a newer push.
   group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
   cancel-in-progress: true
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pace_tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/pace_tests.yaml
index 63f9f0e7..ce87b9f7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pace_tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pace_tests.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 name: "pace main tests"
 on:
   pull_request:
+  push:
+    # We don't use a merge queue and allow to merge outdated branches for practical reasons,
+    # because pyFV3 and pace tests take a long time to run. The "safety net" is thus to run
+    # tests when pushing to protected branches.
+    branches: [develop, main]
 
 jobs:
   pace_main_tests:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/shield_tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/shield_tests.yaml
index c27fd232..a9f92c67 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/shield_tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/shield_tests.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 name: "SHiELD Translate tests"
 on:
   pull_request:
+  push:
+    # We don't use a merge queue and allow to merge outdated branches for practical reasons,
+    # because pyFV3 and pace tests take a long time to run. The "safety net" is thus to run
+    # tests when pushing to protected branches.
+    branches: [develop, main]
 
 jobs:
   shield_translate_tests:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yaml
index d2095258..0e44cdf2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/unit_tests.yaml
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 name: "NDSL unit tests"
 on:
   pull_request:
+  push:
+    # We don't use a merge queue and allow to merge outdated branches for practical reasons,
+    # because pyFV3 and pace tests take a long time to run. The "safety net" is thus to run
+    # tests when pushing to protected branches.
+    branches: [develop, main]
 
-# cancel running jobs if theres a newer push
 concurrency:
+  # Cancel running jobs if theres a newer push.
   group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
   cancel-in-progress: true