diff --git a/.github/scripts/check_heavy_ci_gate.sh b/.github/scripts/check_heavy_ci_gate.sh
index 151b029b1..b2e0d1063 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/check_heavy_ci_gate.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/check_heavy_ci_gate.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
 # Decide whether an expensive PR CI workflow should run.
-# Non-PR events keep their existing behavior. For PR events, run only when the
-# current event explicitly adds one of CI_GATE_LABELS, or the PR has any
-# historical APPROVED review.
+# Non-PR events keep their existing behavior. For PR events, run when the PR
+# currently has one of CI_GATE_LABELS, or the PR has any historical APPROVED
+# review.
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -34,6 +34,24 @@ label_is_allowed() {
   return 1
 }
 
+find_allowed_pr_label() {
+  local labels label
+  labels="$(jq -r '.pull_request.labels[]?.name // empty' "${EVENT_PATH}")"
+
+  if [ -z "${labels}" ] && [ -n "${REPO:-}" ] && [ -n "${PR_NUMBER:-}" ]; then
+    labels="$(gh api --paginate "repos/${REPO}/issues/${PR_NUMBER}/labels" --jq '.[].name' 2>/dev/null || true)"
+  fi
+
+  while IFS= read -r label; do
+    if [ -n "${label}" ] && label_is_allowed "${label}"; then
+      printf '%s\n' "${label}"
+      return 0
+    fi
+  done <<< "${labels}"
+
+  return 1
+}
+
 check_relevant_paths() {
   if [ -z "${CI_GATE_PATHS_IGNORE:-}" ]; then
     return 0
@@ -178,8 +196,9 @@ fi
 OWNER="${REPO%%/*}"
 NAME="${REPO#*/}"
 
-if [ "${ACTION}" = "labeled" ] && label_is_allowed "${EVENT_LABEL}"; then
-  emit_decision "true" "manual-label" "${EVENT_LABEL}"
+MATCHED_LABEL="$(find_allowed_pr_label || true)"
+if [ -n "${MATCHED_LABEL}" ]; then
+  emit_decision "true" "label-present" "${MATCHED_LABEL}"
   exit 0
 fi
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr-welcome-comment.yaml b/.github/workflows/pr-welcome-comment.yaml
index e3b0c78cd..2450ef8c3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr-welcome-comment.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr-welcome-comment.yaml
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ jobs:
               "| `ci:vllm` | Run ATOM vLLM OOT model accuracy tests |",
               "| `ci:sglang` | Run ATOM SGLang model accuracy tests |",
               "",
-              "> Heavy jobs are skipped when the PR is not approved and no matching `ci:*` label was just added.",
+              "> Heavy jobs are skipped when the PR is not approved and no matching `ci:*` label is present.",
               `> Add labels via the sidebar or \`gh pr edit ${context.issue.number} --add-label <label>\``,
             ].join("\n");